The Ohio Academy of Science selected 62 Ohio schools and 356 teachers to receive Governor’s Thomas Edison Awards for Excellence in STEM Education for their accomplishments during the 2011-2012 school year. All four Westerville middle schools – Blendon, Genoa, Heritage, and Walnut Springs – were recognized, with Heritage having received the maximum median score of 10 points. The Technology Division of The Ohio Department of Development funded the program.
Sixteen Westerville teachers were honored. They are: Angie Crego, Blendon Middle School; Tina Bardwell, Julie McSwords, Jessica Meginnis and Debra Pellington, Genoa Middle School; LaVanya Watkins, Debra Pellington, Nyesha Clayton and Jason Tucker, Heritage Middle School; and Pat Palumbo, Chad Clark, Lisa Huelskamp, Pete Wegley, Bill Wetta, John McCoy, Jane Webster and Brittany Green, Walnut Springs Middle School. Each will receive special Governor’s Award certificates.
“Receiving a Governor’s Thomas Edison Award for Excellence sends a clear signal that these schools and teachers value student-originated, inquiry-based science and technology education as envisioned for the Next-Generation Science Education Standards being developed nationally,” said Dr. Lynn E. Elfner, the Academy’s CEO. “Whole new worlds of opportunities open up to students when they complete research or technological design projects.”
The Ohio Academy of Science initiated this educational partnership program in cooperation with The Office of the Governor and The Technology Division of The Ohio Department of Development to recognize schools and teachers who stimulate student scientific and technological research and extend STEM education opportunities beyond traditional classroom activities.