Program recognizes outstanding Central Kentucky area STEM teachers
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 2, 2014) — Lexmark International Inc. has honored the first four winners of INSPIRE: Lexmark’s Teaching Award for the 2014-2015 school year. The program recognizes outstanding Central Kentucky area elementary, middle and high school science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) teachers.
Lexmark representatives surprised the following teachers with an INSPIRE award in front of peers and students at their schools. The teachers were presented with a $1,000 award to be used to promote STEM education in their classrooms:
- Dr. Julye Adams, a biomedical sciences teacher at Elkhorn Crossing School in Georgetown, “seeks every opportunity to bring authenticity to the classroom and to prepare high school students for college and STEM career fields,” according to a Lexmark release. For example, she brings math and science concepts to life through a bone detectives lab where she creates a crime scene using imitation bones, and students conduct scientific investigations. Adams’ students also complete a year-long project that includes grant writing and medical research, and they present their findings to an advisory board of industry professionals.
- Tammy Bradley, a science teacher at Collins Lane Elementary School in Frankfort, is “focused on building critical thinking skills in her science students,” a Lexmark release noted. “She challenges her students to solve problems through research and experiment, and then explain the thinking behind their answers. During a recent lesson on earthworms, Bradley’s students studied the digestive tract and body structure of live earthworms, and predicted, observed and tracked data.”
- Amanda Prewitt, a science teacher at Waco Elementary School in Waco, “continually researches exciting new ways to engage students and enhance their love of learning,” the release stated. “In 2013 she collaborated with community-based organizations to offer third, fourth and fifth graders a day of learning STEM concepts at the school’s first Career and Technology Expo. Prewitt also leads the environmental club at the school, which was selected as the 2013 NEED Kentucky Elementary Rookie of the Year for its energy-saving and conservation efforts.”
- Lana Russell, a science teacher at Edythe J. Hayes Middle School in Lexington, “integrates technology in her science classroom daily through project-based lessons that require students to experiment, collaborate and solve problems,” Lexmark stated. For example, this year her students designed Rube Goldberg experiments, constructing complicated machines to perform simple tasks. They then discussed the energy transfers needed to make the experiments work.
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