The foundation for a great physician begins in a classroom, with inspiration from passionate science teachers. Three outstanding Texas science teachers received the Texas Medical Association’s 2022 Ernest and Sarah Butler Awards for Excellence in Science Teaching at a ceremony in Austin earlier this month.
“Helping young people experience science positively will open their minds to opportunities far beyond what they may otherwise imagine. Good teachers are the key,” said Ernest Butler, MD (pictured above, second from left), whose donation along with his wife, Sarah (above photo, middle), allowed for the creation of the awards in 1998. They later established an endowment at the TMA Foundation to support and expand the awards. A TMAF grant funds the annual awards through the endowment and gifts from physicians and their families.
TMAF board members Amy Whited and Isabel Hoverman, MD, presented this year’s awards.
“The work you do is helping shape the future of Texas for years to come,” said Ms. Whited. “TMA is proud to honor you for your dedication to teaching science.”
This year’s winners, who received generous cash awards and a resource grant for their schools, epitomize what the awards recognize: teachers who share their energy and enthusiasm for science to cultivate their students’ interest in pursuing careers in both medicine and science. The winners, pictured above with the Butlers, are:
- Grand prize: Valerie Valadez-Sims (far left) teaches fifth-grade science at Clara Love Elementary in Northwest ISD in Justin, north of Fort Worth. Mrs. Valadez-Sims is a repeat winner, having received the elementary award last year. Mrs. Valadez-Sims’ passion and comprehensive teaching style shines in a unit about sharks. In a classroom transformed into an ocean with teachers dressed as sharks, students learn about animal habitats and adaptations, calculate shark speed and travel distance, and discover social and environmental threats to shark populations.
- High school: Sabrina Ewald (second from right) teaches AP environmental science and earth and space science at Centennial High School in Frisco Independent School District (ISD). Mrs. Ewald, an avid rock collector in her youth, shares her passion for geoscience – and samples from her rock collection – in a unit about natural resources, mining, and energy production. Her students experience “a-ha moments” as they calculate their personal energy use and the amount of fossil fuel and renewable energy resources required to provide for their energy needs and those of their city, country, and world.
- Elementary school: Jessica Robicheaux-Crow (far right) teaches fifth-grade science at Post Elementary in Jersey Village, near Houston. When students enter her classroom, they usually are in for a surprise. One day, Mrs. Robicheaux-Crow might bring an albino ball python to help her class explore life science. Or she may come dressed as an astronaut to take a “field trip” into space.
The Butlers’ strong belief in the value of public education fueled their interest in funding the TMA awards. Mrs. Butler, now retired, taught Spanish in Spring Branch ISD and understands the influence a teacher can have on students.
“We have a strong belief in the influence of stimulating education. Strong science education at all levels can inspire a love of learning,” Dr. Butler said. “Through the program, we expect many unique ideas will be shared among science teachers.”
Nominations for the 2023 awards are now open. If you know an outstanding full-time science teacher at a public or private school, nominate him or her. You also can make a tax-deductible donation to support the awards. (In the drop-down menu, select TMA Ernest and Sarah Butler Awards for Excellence in Science Teaching Program.)
For more information, visit the webpage for the Butler Awards.
Tammy Wishard
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(512) 370-1470