Weac Members Receive Presidential Teaching Award Honors
Four WEAC members are returning from the nation's capital with Presidential
Citations for their excellence in classroom instruction.
River Falls mathematics teacher Susan Popelka, Milwaukee 5th-grade teacher
Beth Schefelker, Eau Claire physics teacher James Schmitt and Columbus
science teacher Susan Sewell each received a Presidential Award for Excellence
in Mathematics and Science Teaching this month.
Each educator traveled to Washington, D.C., March 18-23, 2003, for recognition
activities, including an awards ceremony and meetings with government
and education leaders. The honorees also received a $7,500 cash award
from the National Science Foundation to improve science and mathematics
instruction.
Popelka is a 25-year veteran of the classroom. She received National
Board certification in the fall of 2002, and currently teaches at River
Falls High School. She has written two books about science instruction,
"Simple Science with Simple Stuff," and "More Simple Science
with Simple Stuff."
With 17 years of experience in Milwaukee Public Schools, Schefelker is
active in the implementation of the district's mathematics program. She
teaches at Thoreau Elementary School, and has been described as a teacher
who values interactive learning.
Schmitt, who teaches at Eau Claire's North High School, adds the Presidential
Teaching Award to a list of honors, including the Milken Family Foundation
National Educator Award, Kohl Teacher Fellowship, and Radio Shack National
Science Teacher of the Year.
Sewell is a life and environmental science instructor at Columbus Middle
School. She has been a lead teacher for the Wisconsin Academy Staff Development
Initiative, and is a member of both state and national science teacher
associations.
Nominations are being accepted for the 2003 Presidential Awards for Excellence
in Mathematics and Science Teaching, which will honor 7-12 grade math
and science teachers. Grade K-6 teachers will be eligible for nomination
in 2004.
To nominate a colleague (self-nominations are not accepted) visit the
Presidential Teaching Awards
Web site.
Posted March 26, 2003