May 5, 2017
The Texas Medical
Association (TMA) named twelve Texas science
teachers
winners of its2017 Ernest and Sarah
Butler Awards for Excellence in Science Teaching.TMA recognizes elementary, middle, and high school teachers for helping
to create tomorrow’s physicians by inspiring students in the field of science. Teachers
receive cash prizes and their schools receive cash resource grants to enhance
their science program.
The three first-place winners
were honored today at TexMed, the association’s annual conference, in Houston. TMA
surprised one of the top winners as the “overall winner,” which carries with it
an additional cash award. Three second and three third-place awards, and three
rookie awards (given to science teachers with fewer than 5 years’ teaching
experience) will be presented in upcoming local ceremonies.
Additionally, a state
representative will recognize the TMA science teaching awards and some of this
year’s honorees at the state Capitol during National Teacher Day on May 9. Rep.
Ken King (R-Canadian) will present a resolution honoring all science teachers
and congratulating TMA’s 2017 science teacher award winners.
Overall Winner:
The overall,
third-place, and rookie awards are brand new this year. TMA selected the overall
winner from the first-place honorees. The inaugural recipient of this top honor
is Teresa Kelm of Connally
Elementary School in Waco. The
overall winner receives $5,000 in addition to the first-place winner prize.
First-Place Winners:
Ms. Kelm – Connally Elementary
School, Waco
Terri Henry – Benold Middle
School, Georgetown
Monica Amyett – Azle High School, Azle
(See winner biographies
below.)
TMA awarded eacha
$6,000 cash prize, plus their schools receive a
$2,000 resource grant to
enhance science classroom learning.
Second-Place Winners:
Therese Ermer – Salinas Elementary
School, Universal City
Jana Lindley – Clark Middle School,Abilene
Julieta Banuelas – Fabens High
School, Fabens
Second-place winners each
receive a $4,000 cash prize and their schools receive a $1,000 resource grant.
Third-Place Winners:
Holly Land – South Bosque
Elementary School, Woodway
Gena Lopez – Ennis Junior High
School, Ennis
Karey Moore – Aledo High School, Aledo.
TMA gives each third-place
winner a $2,000 cash prize and a $1,000 resource grant for their schools.
Rookie Award Winners:
Lexi Law – Ben Franklin Elementary, Wichita Falls
Brittany Monds – Clarendon Junior High School, Clarendon
Krystal Scott – Goodrich Independent School District,Goodrich.
Each rookie award
winner receives a $1,500 cash prize and their schools receive a $1,000 resource
grant.
Teresa Kelm —
Overall Winner, and Elementary School First-Place Winner - Waco
Mrs. Kelm teaches fifth-grade
science at Connally Elementary in Waco. “I want to make science fun and
engaging for students, to make it alive and applicable,” she says. Learning is
a hands-on activity in Mrs. Kelm’s classroom, where she calls students
“Starfleet Cadets” from the science fiction franchise Star Trek’s Starfleet
Academy. With “Captain Kelm” at the helm, the cadets boldly explore new science
concepts, perform experiments, and challenge themselves daily. “She is a
difference-maker and a hero,” says Connally Elementary principal Gina Pasisis.
“It is no wonder that so many students tell me Captain Kelm is their favorite
teacher.”
Terri Henry — First-Place Middle School Winner -
Georgetown
Mrs. Henry teaches
eighth-grade science at Benold Middle School in Georgetown. Her classroom is
never quiet or dull ― students are always absorbed in learning through
touching, hearing, seeing, tasting, smelling, and doing. “Science is a hands-on
experience ― I could not imaging teaching any other way,” she says. “Mrs. Henry
possesses the ability to make science come alive, enabling the most challenging
students to achieve mastery-level learning,” says Benold Assistant Principal
Joseph Ferguson. Outside the classroom, Mrs. Henry volunteers for several after-school
programs, helping students with homework and teaching computer coding, crafts,
photography and videography, underwater robotics, and practical skills for 21st
century jobs.
Monica Amyett — First-Place High School Winner - Azle
Mrs. Amyett
teaches ninth through 12th grade biology and engineering classes at Azle High
School in Azle. “I attempt to convey my love for the subject in hopes that I
might inspire future scientists, medical professionals, and teachers,” she
says. To encourage her students to pursue these careers, Mrs. Amyett
established a robotics team and a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and
math) program at Azle High School. Her lessons always link science to practical
applications so students know science is essential in everyday life. “Mrs.
Amyett is one-of-a-kind,” says Azle junior Ainsley McDonald-Boyer, a NASA High
School Aerospace Scholar and student of Mrs. Amyett. “She has helped me to
shape my future.”
The 2017 TMA
Ernest and Sarah Butler Awards for Excellence in Science Teaching are made
possible with a grant from the Texas Medical Association Foundation, which is
supported through an endowment generously established by Dr. and Mrs. Ernest C.
Butler and gifts from physicians and their families.
TMA
is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 50,000
physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 110 component
county medical societies around the state. TMA’s key objective since 1853 is to
improve the health of all Texans. TMA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the
association and raises funds to support the population health, science and
quality-of-care priority initiatives of TMA and the family of medicine.
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Contact: Brent Annear (512) 370-1381; cell: (512) 656-7320; email: brent.annear[at]texmed[dot]org
Marcus Cooper (512)
370-1382; cell: (512) 650-5336; email: marcus.cooper[at]texmed[dot]org
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