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Cheryl Cowan Memorial Award for

Innovative Elementary Science Teaching

This award is presented to an outstanding new elementary science teacher who exhibits the passion for the innovative science teaching that exemplified Cheryl Cowan's teaching career. The Cheryl Cowan Memorial Award is awarded annually by the Hoosier Association of Science Teachers, Inc.

Nominees must be full-time classroom teachers in the state of Indiana with 5 or fewer years of teaching experience. ( Grades K-5 or Grades 6-8 self-contained classrooms )

You may nominate someone for this award with this form.

The nominator must be a current HASTI member.

The nominee may, but is not required, to be a current HASTI member.

2003 Cheryl Cowan Award Recipient - Jim Dettmer

Jim Dettmer, a third grade teacher at Perry Hill Elementary School in Fort Wayne, Indiana is being recognized with the 2003 Cheryl Cowan Award as an outstanding and innovative elementary science teacher. Jim has attended several HASTI conventions as a college student and even served as a HASTI convention photographer. He voluntarily helped distribute materials at various elementary presentations.

Jim is only a first year teaher but has begun assuming leadership roles in his school. He has established an electronic report card, assisted staff with technology problems and taught an after-school enrichment class for students to help them design their personal web pages. Most important of all, he has embraced inquiry-centered science instruction. Students in Jim's class are given ample opportunity to be involved in their own learning, ask probing questions and alter outcomes dictated by interests.

Jim truly deserves the Cheryl Cowan Award as he definitely is a young teacher with whom Cheryl would have been proud to work and learn!

Past Recipients:

2001 Cheryl Cowan Award Recipient - Stacy Bell

Stacy Bell, a fourth grade teacher at Indian Village Elementary School in Fort wayne, Indiana, is being recognized with the 2001 Cheryl Cowan Award as an outstanding and innovative new elementary science teacher. During her four years of teaching, Stacy has made numerous HASTI presentations primarily based on assessment of kit-based materials. She has devised innovative performance-based assessments for many of the adopted kits of the Fort wayne Community Schools District. A sample assessment allowed students to select a project from a variety of choices, addressing various learning modalities, in order to demonstrate their understanding of landforms. She has also created science notebook rubrics for most of the adopted fourth and fifth grade science kits.

Stacy has served as a technology coordinator in her school and has trained many of her colleagues in using exemplary science kits. She actively engages her students in inquiry-centered science with the use of concept maps and "I Wonder" questions. She has also participated in "Building Bridges to the Future" National Science Foundation project.

HASTI applauds this young elementary science teacher for her leadership in science reform in her school, district and state.

2000 Cheryl Cowan Award Recipient - Stacey Smith,

Stacey Smith was honored as the recipient of the Cheryl Cowan Award at the 2000 HASTI Convention. Stacey is a third grade teacher at Irwin Elementary Science Magnet School in Fort Wayne, Indiana where she employs the use of inquiry, journaling, discussions, hands-on investigations, and many other techniques that encourage students to be involved in the learning process. She is in her fifth year of teaching and has been a member of the "Building Bridges to the Future" National Science Foundation project both as a participant and as a lead trainer. She has piloted exemplary materials for the Fort Wayne Community Schools Adoption Committee and serves on district curriculum development projects. Stacey has conducted numerous workshops for teachers from all over northeastern Indiana to acquaint them with inquiry approach to teaching science and how to use exemplary materials.

She has been involved in promoting elementary science teaching in her school by working with teachers to create performance assessment activities and rubrics to support the present kit adoption in Fort Wayne. She has been a HASTI presenter for the past three years. Stacey is deserving of this award because she demonstrates a passion for teaching science as evidenced by the time and energy she devotes to preparing lessons, gathering new materials, evaluating and assessing student work, and her willingness to share with other elementary colleagues.

1999..........Erik Haberkorn

1998..........Julie Hays

Nominees must be full-time classroom teachers in the state of Indiana with less than five years of teaching experience. They must teach in a self-contained classroom for grades K-5 or 6-8.