December 14, 2005
Just stick your head above the crowd and someone will shoot at it. One Colorado elementary teacher is getting hit in the head with flying film canisters powered by water and Alka-Seltzer… and the kids are being praised. Colorado Association of Science Teachers selected Shannon Koppenfafer as the Science Teacher of the Year for the state’s elementary school teachers. She was nominated by John McConnell, the Grand Valley’s version of Mr. Science who runs the Western Colorado Math and Science Center.
Here’s a secret that I learned years ago… constantly seek out amazing teachers. Read about them… watch them in action… study their writings… find out what makes them tick. As teachers, we all benefit when one of our own receives this type of well-deserved recognition.
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May 18, 2005
We all have attended our share of awards banquets and recognition dinners, but tonight’s celebration was like none I have ever attended. Tonight I received the honor of getting to speak to the 2005 Colorado recipients of the Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence and the many honored guests who turned out to celebrate the achievements of two amazing teachers. Bob Dorsett of Meeker High School in Meeker, Colorado, and Mary Ann Varanka Martin of Estes Park High School in Estes Park, Colorado, each took home a cash award of $5,000 for their personal use and $5,000 awarded to their school.
Bob Dorsett has a list of accomplishments a mile long, but I was most impressed with his ability to motivate and inspire students to think like scientists. One of the many letters that accompanied his nomination was written by a student who explained that Dr. Dorsett only has two rules in his class. “Rule #1 is to think like a scientist and Rule #2 is to treat all living beings with respect.” Oh, by the way, the “doctor” title is an M.D. That’s right, he left the medical profession to teach science. Amazing!
Mary Ann Varanka Martin exhibits strong leadership
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