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The award for an elementary teacher goes to Carrie Ehn, a fifth grade teacher at the School of Engineering and Arts in Golden Valley. Carrie puts a strong emphasis on active learning in her classroom. She has ongoing projects in her class including raising Trout and having observations of chickens.

Carrie has develop a Science Showcase as a culmination event in which they transpose their notes into a slideshows that they share with younger grade levels. Ms. Ehn states that “my students have learned to be actively involved in their own learning and deeply developed in their understanding of how to take charge of their learning.” The award funds will be used purchase science tradebooks and the materials to carry out investigations inspired by the books. Congratulations Carrie.

The award for a secondary teacher goes to Nora Gathje from Chatfield High school, where she teaches Biology, Chemistry, Physical Science and Environmental Science.

 Some of the approaches she uses in her teaching are:

- interdisciplinary instruction using real world problems such as analyzing the ethanol that can be generated from corn,

- focusing on skills development to prepare students for future careers that may not exist now, and

- making learning relevant to students, for example using sports and their smart phones for investigations.

Nora’s will use the award funds to purchase recycling stations to implement programs of the student Green Team that she started this year. Congratulations Nora.