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Alaska Educator Receives Top Award From The National Science Teachers Association

Dépèche transmise le 28 mars 2011 par Business Wire

Alaska Educator Receives Top Award From The National Science Teachers Association

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning, has announced the recipients of its 2011 Teacher Awards. NSTA presented its most prestigious award, the Robert H. Carleton Award sponsored by the Dow Chemical Company, to former NSTA President Dr. Emma Walton, a science education consultant for NASA Aerospace Education and Avante-Garde Learning Foundation in Anchorage, Alaska. Walton received her award at a special banquet and ceremony at the NSTA National Conference on Science Education held March 10-13, 2011, in San Francisco.

“On behalf of NSTA, I offer my congratulations and thanks to Dr. Walton, whose dedication to the improvement and enhancement of science education has helped hundreds of students and teachers nationwide.”

Walton has spent much of her career helping to improve the quality of science education for educators and students nationwide. Her commitment and dedication to the education field spans more than four decades. Walton began her career as a high school biology teacher in Metairie, Louisiana. After 10 years as a science teacher, she moved to administrative positions in education and taught as an adjunct instructor for several universities. A passionate and well-recognized science education leader, Walton has served as president of the National Science Supervisors Association (NSSA), now known as the National Science Education Leadership Association (NSELA), the Alaska Science Teachers Association (ASTA), the Alaska Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (AASCD), served as a program director with the National Science Foundation, and was a consultant with the National Science Resource Center (NSRC). Additionally, Walton played a critical role in the development of curriculum for the Anchorage School District.

An NSTA member since 1974, Walton has also contributed extensively to the association. In addition to her tenure as president, she has served as a division director; presented many sessions at conferences; co-chaired the 1986 area conference in Anchorage; and worked on a number of committees, advisory boards, judging panels, and task forces.

Walton has also been recognized extensively for her contributions to science education. She is the recipient of the NSTA Distinguished Service to Science Education Award, the NSTA Search for Excellence in Science Education Award for Outstanding Science Supervision, and the NSTA Search for Excellence Award for Outstanding Elementary Science Program. She has also been recognized by the Society of Elementary Presidential Awardees with its Distinguished Service Award, was named Outstanding School Administrator by the Anchorage School District, and was a finalist for the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year.

“NSTA awardees reflect the highest standards in science education,” said NSTA President Alan McCormack. “On behalf of NSTA, I offer my congratulations and thanks to Dr. Walton, whose dedication to the improvement and enhancement of science education has helped hundreds of students and teachers nationwide.”

“Science teachers are the direct conduit to our nation’s next generation of scientists,” said Tommy Faucheux, STEM education program manager at the Dow Chemical Company, and presenter of this year’s Carleton award. “Dow is proud to sponsor this prestigious award because it aligns with Dow’s commitment to STEM education and the mission of the International Year of Chemistry, while rewarding educators like Dr. Walton, who go above and beyond to showcase why the sciences matter.”

The Robert H. Carleton Award recognizes one individual who has made outstanding contributions to and provided leadership in science education at the national level and to NSTA in particular. The awardee receives a $5,000 grant from Dow, a formal citation, and an all-expense-paid trip to attend the NSTA National Conference.

About NSTA

The Arlington, VA-based National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), www.nsta.org, is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA's current membership includes approximately 60,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in science education.

About Dow

Dow combines the power of science and technology with the “Human Element” to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2009, Dow had annual sales of $45 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 214 sites in 37 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com. For more information about Dow’s involvement as a global partner of the International Year of Chemistry, click here.