Two teachers who use K'NEX Education materials in their classrooms have received national recognition for their work.
Kerry Landon - Second Grade teacher, won the 2004 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching representing the state of Pennsylvania. Kerry had to submit a videotaped lesson as part of her requirements for selection. Yes! You guessed it! She submitted a lesson using K'NEX Education's Intermediate Math Set. Please refer to the award announcement below for further details.
Angel Bestwick - Fifth Grade teacher, was awarded a Toyota Tapestry Grant for $10,000 to support activities in her classroom. She also uses K'NEX Education materials in her math and science programs. Please refer to the award announcement below for further details.
Both Kerry and Angel teach at the same elementary school in Dallas, PA. You can only imagine the excitement that their awards have generated with their students and colleagues. Both Kerry and Angel have attended many K'NEX Education workshops and they have begun co-presenting workshops on their own using K'NEX Education Sets. I was honored to escort Angel at the Toyota Tapestry Awards program in Dallas, TX two weeks ago. Kerry received her award last Friday in Washington.
White House Honors America's Outstanding Science and Mathematics Teachers
The White House rolled out the red carpet last week to honor the recipients of the 2004 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). Considered the nation's highest honor for science and math educators, this year's awards went to 95 elementary teachers. Awardees received a $10,000 gift from the National Science Foundation and an all expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. for a week-long celebration of events and professional development activities.
"This award recognizes the contributions that teachers make to America's legacy of progress by encouraging young people to study and understand math and science," wrote President George W. Bush in a letter to all awardees. "With a strong foundation in these critical subjects, today's students will be able to better compete and succeed in the 21st century workforce."
NSTA honored the teachers at a special breakfast event and encouraged their continued participation and involvement in NSTA. The 2005 Presidential Award nominations are currently open for science and math teachers in grades 7-12. Public, private, and parochial school teachers can be nominated by anyone except themselves. For information about the 2005 program, or to read more about the 2004 winners, go to http://www.paemst.org.
(Tracy Underwood, Toyota's national manager for corporate contributions holds up a full-page ad in the April 1 edition of USA Today announcing the 2005 TAPESTRY winners.) Toyota Awards $550,000 in Grants to K-12 Science Teachers
Toyota TAPESTRY, the largest science teacher grant program in the nation, awarded nearly $550,000 in grants to 50 K-12 U.S. teachers at the NSTA National Convention last month. Fifty teachers received up to $10,000 each and 27 received minigrants of up to $2,500 each. This year's projects range from evaluating emissions data from alternative fuel sources to an innovative forensics science investigation. To see the list of winning teachers and grant projects, go to http://www.nsta.org/programs/tapestry/thisyears.htm.
Toyota awards grants to K-12 teachers each year. Judges select projects that demonstrate creativity, involve risk-taking, and possess a visionary quality in three critical areas: environmental and physical science, and science applications that promote literacy. Toyota has awarded more than $6.5 million to 750 teams of teachers throughout the program's 15-year history.
It's never too early to begin working on your grant submission for next year. You could be among the next 50 teachers to get $10,000 for your innovative ideas! Teachers can apply individually or in teams and applications are due in January. For more information about Toyota TAPESTRY grants, visit http://www.nsta.org/programs/tapestry or call 800-807-9852.
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