Alexandria, VA – Meg Town, a teacher at Redmond Junior High School in Redmond, Washington, has been named the 2012 recipient of the Edward C. Roy, Jr. Award for Excellence in K-8 Earth Science Teaching. Town, who earned her master's degree in education from the University of Washington, has spent her career challenging middle and junior high school students with inquiry-based, hands-on learning in the Earth sciences. Earth science is, she says, "the most touchable science."
"We were excited to learn how Ms. Town helps her students to generate and investigate their own questions about the natural world," said AGI Education Director Ann Benbow on recognizing Town with the award. "This is the kind of learning that stays with students throughout their lives."
Town will be presented with the award at the NESTA Friends of Earth Science Reception during the National Science Teachers Association 2012 National Conference in Indianapolis later this month. Finalists for the award were Nathan Shotwell of Holman Middle School in Richmond, Virginia, and Deborah Wickerham of Chamberlin Hill Intermediate School in Findlay, Ohio.
Given annually, AGI's Edward C. Roy, Jr. Award recognizes one classroom teacher from kindergarten to eighth grade for leadership and innovation in Earth science education. This award is named in honor of Dr. Edward C. Roy, Jr., who was a strong and dedicated supporter of Earth science education. To learn more, please see http://www.agiweb.org/education/awards/ed-roy/.
The American Geosciences Institute is a nonprofit federation of 50 geoscientific and professional associations that represents more than 250,000 geologists, geophysicists and other earth scientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests in the profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in society's use of resources, resiliency to natural hazards, and interaction with the environment.