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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For information contact:
David A. Blohm
President
Mass. Software Council Education Foundation
dblohm@blohmgroup.com
978- 443-3647
Alice Jelin
Executive Director
Mass. Software Council Education Foundation
alicej@msicouncil.org
617-437-0600, ext. 28
Massachusetts Software Council Education Foundation
Announces Winners of Above and Beyond Awards
Dozen Middle School Math and Science Teachers
Win $1,000 Grants;
One Cambridge Public School Teacher Also Receives $10,000 Stipend
Boston, MA – May 5, 2003 – The Education Foundation
of the Massachusetts Software & Internet Council today announced
the winners of its annual Above and Beyond Awards. The unique program
recognizes and rewards outstanding math and science teachers in
grades 6-8.
A dozen middle school math and science teachers from across the
state won $1,000 grants for classroom use. In addition, one Cambridge
Public School teacher also received the Education Foundation’s
top award, a $10,000 stipend to document, further develop and package
award winning teaching practices that can be broadly disseminated
and integrated into the curriculum.
Margaret McKenna, President of Lesley University, and David Blohm,
President of the Education Foundation, presented this year’s
Above and Beyond Awards at the Council’s Spring Membership
Meeting, held today at the Newton Marriott Hotel.
“We received dozens of nominations for Above and Beyond Awards
from every corner of the state,” said Blohm. “Members
of our Science and Technology Advisory Committee reviewed each one
and selected the 12 middle school math and science teachers who
use best practices, unique projects, creative materials, and innovative
technology in the classroom.”
The Foundation’s top award went to Karen L. Spaulding, an
8th grade science and engineering teacher at the Morse School in
Cambridge. In addition to her classroom teaching responsibilities,
she supports middle grade science instruction in the Cambridge Public
Schools as a mentor by planning with middle grade science teachers,
working in their classrooms, developing and carrying out professional
development, writing grants, designing assessments, interpreting
district data, and opening her classroom for other teachers to observe.
“The goal of Karen’s award-winning project is to embark
with students on a journey to determine the health of the Charles
River by using both physical and biological
measures,” said President McKenna. “Teaching environmental
education in an urban school system poses unique challenges. Karen
engages students in an inquiry to pursue their own questions about
the river and what lives there to motivate and empower them.”
Above and Beyond Awards
The Foundation also presented Above and Beyond Awards to 11 middle
school math and science teachers. This included Karen Spaulding
as well as:
- Amy S. Bebell, who teaches 6th grade science, engineering and
reading in the science content area at the Watertown Middle School
in Watertown;
- Sarah Chapin, who teaches 8th grade science and engineering
at Hudson High School in Hudson;
- Jane Crooks, a science and engineering teacher, and Kim VanderSpek,
a math teacher, who both teach 6th grade at the Bancroft Independent
School in Worcester;
- Therese M. Goulet, who teaches6th grade science, engineering
and social studies at the Thomas Prince School in Princeton;
- Ank Meuwissen, who teaches 7th grade science and engineering
at the South Middle School in Braintree;
- Paul M. Niles, who teaches 6th, 7th, and 8th grade science
and engineering at the Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School in Orleans;
- Natalie M. Petrillo, who teaches 7th and 8th grade math at
Austin Preparatory School in Reading;
- Warren G. Phillips, who teaches 7th grade science/engineering
at the Plymouth Community Intermediate School in Plymouth;
- Ranjani Sriram, who teaches 7th grade math at the Dunn Middle
School in Danvers; and
- Darren T. Wells, who teaches 6th grade science and engineering
at the James P. Timilty Middle School in Boston.
In addition to the $10,000 stipend, Karen Spaulding will also
receive a professional development scholarship from Lesley University.
All 12 Above and Beyond Award winners will also receive a plaque
for their schools, educational software from The School Group
of Riverdeep-The Learning Company, a free professional development
and training workshop from WebCT, memberships from Massachusetts
Computer Using Educators (MassCUE), and a 12 month subscription
to all research produced by Eduventures, the worldwide authority
on the education industry.
The Massachusetts Software & Internet Council has a history
of leadership in assisting K-12 schools in the area of technology
education. The Council launched its Education Foundation in 1996,
and the Foundation has presented “Above and Beyond Awards”
each year since then. Past award winners have included teachers,
principals, librarians, volunteers and others who are leading
the way in merging education and technology.
About the Massachusetts Software & Internet Council
The Massachusetts Software & Internet Council was founded
in 1985 to promote the Massachusetts software and Internet industry,
to help executives start, grow, and manage companies, and to help
companies compete successfully in global markets. Currently there
are approximately 600 member companies. The Council organizes
more than 50 meetings a year on the business aspects of managing
software and Internet companies; it conducts research on the industry;
represents the software and Internet industry on technology-related
public policy issues; creates innovative programs to deal with
the shortage of skilled workers; and promotes Massachusetts globally
as a center of technology leadership and innovation.
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