Monday, December 18, 2017

Schoolyard Teacher Recognized 4Times Over



"When it Rains, It Pours" 

That was Belchertown High School Teacher, Louise Levy's, response to having received 4 awards  for her outstanding contributions to science and conservation teaching this year. 

Louise was recognized with the following awards in 2017 :  


  •    Massachusetts Hall of Fame for Science Educators
  •    Mass. Audubon Society Conservation Teacher of the Year
  •    Hampshire County Science Educator of the Year (MAST)
  •    Harvard Forest Schoolyard Ecology Long Term Project Leadership


Belchertown High School science teacher Louise Levy, left, accepts the Conservation Teacher of the Year Award from Mass Audubon president Gary Clayton Oct. 14, 2017 during the annual meeting of Mass Audubon, the state's largest nature conservation nonprofit, held at the Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Easthampton. —GAZETTE STAFF/SARAH CROSBY by Daily Hampshire Gazette.
                              

THE MASSACHUSETTS HALL OF FAME FOR SCIENCE EDUCATORS

Louise Levy was one of three science educators inducted into the Hall of Fame at a luncheon ceremony sponsored by the Massachusetts Science Education Leadership Association on October 20, 2017. 

The Hall of Fame was founded in 1992 and has recognized 110 members.  Each member has had a long and distinguished career in science education in Massachusetts.

                                  

                              Louise shows 2 of her awards with the help of her husband. 
                                                                                                                      Photo by Susan Swift


Louise was awarded for having met the following criteria: 

The individual should have been involved in science education in Massachusetts for a minimum of twenty years. The individual should have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of education in the sciences and/or science teaching in Massachusetts. 
 
  • Has had an effect in school(s) and/or system (s). 
  • Has had an effect statewide/regionally. 
  • Has had an impact nationally. 
  • Has introduced/modified new teaching/learning programs. 
  • Has done workshops and lectures for student groups. 
  • Has publications related to science/education of value to science educators. 
  • Has provided service to professional organizations. 
  • There is evidence of enthusiastic and continual search for knowledge.
  • There is evidence of leadership in science education. 
  • There is evidence of long-term impact on students. 
  • There has been recognition of contributions such as awards/citations from recognized groups. 
For more information on Mass. Science Ed. Hall of Fame go to Link:  http://www.msela.org/science/




Louise was one of 14 Science teachers to receive a

County Science Educator of the Year Award this year.

The Massachusetts Association of Science Teachers (MAST) Award criteria that Louise met for this award included: Having provided a leadership role in promoting and advancing the cause of quality science education among his/her peers; and Having been active in promoting and advancing the cause of quality science education among students in the schools.



 David C. Monroe, Science Dept Chair at Belchertown High School recognized
 Louise at the Belchertown School Committee Meeting.. Photosby Susan Swift


Harvard Forest Loves Louise Too!




In addition to the 3 awards highlighted above, Louise was officially recognized in April by Harvard Forest Schoolyard Ecology for leading a field ecology project at her school for over 8 years.  Louise has made too many contributions to the HF-LTER Schoolyard program to mention here.  She serves as a mentor teacher and workshop presenter for both the Buds, Leaves and Global Warming and the Our Changing Forests schoolyard studies.  Please see links below to see more about what she has added to our program.


Links to educational resources that Louise has contributed to HF Schoolyard Eco:


Levy. 2015. Micro-Directions for Buds, Leaves, Global Warming Related Activities

Levy. 2015. Student Instructions for Entering Buds, Leaves Data onto Online Database

Levy. 2014. Tell the Story of Our Tree

Levy. 2013. Match a Leaf Activity.

Levy. 2011. Belchertown HS: lots goin' on.

Levy. 2010. Data organizers for transferring field data to computer.

Snow. 2016Teacher Created Graphs Compiled-Snow.pptx

Snow. 2015Looking at Data graph slides-2015-Snow-.pdf

Snow. 2012Schoolyard Graphs and Data Tables from Level 3 Data Workshop-2012.pdf