ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I was 10 when my father walked me outside to look into the night sky. A tiny speck of light passed slowly overhead. That was Russia's Sputnik, the first satellite to orbit the Earth.
In July 1969, I was a graduating college student when a bunch of us watched Neil Armstrong walking on the Moon's surface on our black and white television set.
I was chosen as the alternate for NASA's Teacher in Space program from Missouri in 1985. My school district allowed me to observe a launch astronaut Jay Apt's Space Shuttle flight and was able to take my son. I now was able to show him the awesomeness of science.
Dr. Apt gave a presentation about the launch to my high school students. The launch date had changed thus my husband had to take our students on our Chicago field trip without me. I was thrilled to share such an important event with my child now.
Recently, the Artemis II crew flew further than ever before. Hubble's quote: “Equipped with his five senses, many explores the universe around him and calls the adventure science.”
Such national accomplishments thread pride through our culture and underscore the importance of science and nurture curiosity.
“Teaching might be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit.” Unknown
National and Regional Awards
- Woman of Distinction (regional) – 2018 – The Examiner + community groups.
- The National Teacher Hall of Fame – 2014 – NEA + a wide variety of sponsors.
- Mid-America Education Hall of Fame – 1997 – KC Kansas Community College Endowment Foundation
- Presidential Awardee for Excellence in Science Teaching – 1991 – the White House, the National Science Foundation, and other sponsors
- Outstanding Public Service Award – 1896 – National Weather Service (now NOAA)
- Missouri Alternate for Teacher in Space – 1985 – NASA.
- National Science Teaching Award (semifinalist) – NSTA and Shell Oil Company sponsors
- Association of Science – Technology Centers Honor Roll of Teachers 1995 – ASTC (nominated by the KC Museum and Science City)
“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” Carl Sagan
State & Local Awards
- Burroughs Audubon Outstanding Educator Award – 2011 Greater KC Chapter
- Sister Mary Rockers Excellence in Teaching Science Award – 2009 KC Science and Engineering Fair
- Outstanding Service to Science Teachers of Missouri – 1994 & Outstanding MO Educator Award – 1979 Science Teachers of Missouri
- Citation of Excellence establishing the Missouri Science Olympiad 1989
- Outstanding MO Conservation Educator – 1978 – Conservation Federation of Missouri
- Outstanding State Science Teacher Award – 1975 MO Academy of Science
- Excellence in Teaching Award for Greater KC – 1989 – KC Star, KC Chamber of Commerce and the Learning Exchange
- Conservation Educator Award – 1987 – Jackson Co Soil and Water Conservation District
- Special Recognition for Co-Founding the Rockhurst Science Knowledge Bowl – 1985 – Greater KC Science Teachers Association
- Explorer Post of the Year, Advisor of the Year, Award of Merit – 1984, 1985, 1992, 1993
- Outstanding Young Woman of Raytown – 1978 – Jaycee Wives
- Outstanding Young Educator of Raytown – 1974
My husband Lyle and I were fortunate to have supportive parents and districts. Thus we could be innovative and involve students beyond the classroom. Students conducted science research and participated in Science Fairs, water quality testing in local streams, visited science museums and science centers, explored wildlife refuges and botanical gardens, visited planetariums, earning college credit, medical facilities, gave science demos at community locations, and physics labs to name a few activities.
It is estimated that Lyle and my students along with colleagues, parents, and administrators, traveled hundreds of thousand miles taking us as far away as the Hawaiian Islands, Costa Rica and Belize, Glacier National Park, Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum, Okefenokee Swamp, Chicago Natural History Museum, Missouri canoeing and spelunking, and to the Grand Canyon to name a few locations.
More locally students toured the KU Natural History Museum, explored the Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge, St. Louis's Science Center, Botanical Gardens, Kansas Cosmosphere and Omaha's Lied Jungle exhibit some examples.