Science Pioneers is proud to announce that we have three teacher awards available during the 2010-2011 school year. Teachers in grades 4-12 are eligible.

The Howard Gadberry Award in the amount of $500 is designed to recognize teachers in grades 4-12 who show outstanding effort toward motivation of students in the area of scientific exploration.

The Sister Martina Rockers Excellence in Teaching Award (SMETA) in the amount of $1000 sponsored by Ken-A-Vision is designed to recognize teachers in grades 9-12 with at least 20 years of teaching experience.

Want to nominate your teacher? Nomination form!

10-11 Teacher Award Winners:

This year Science Pioneers is please to present two teacher awards. Science Pioneers would like to thank our sponsors for these awards: the family of Howard Gadberry and Ken-A-Vision.

Award: Howard Gadberry Memorial

Winner: Barb McMahill & Deanna Soukup
Description of Award: The Howard Gadberry Memorial Award recognizes Mr. Gadberry's outstanding commitment to research professionalism, and his contributions to the community through his long-term involvement with Midwest Research Institute as their Senior Advisor for Technology. This year the award is a tie and is being presented to Deanna Soukup and Barb McMahill.

Both of these teachers are involved in many areas of science in support of their students and schools. Each of them has had students compete in the Greater Kansas City Science and Engineering Fair numerous times.

Barb McMahill has taught fifth-grade at Fire Prairie Middle School in the Fort Osage School District for 13 years. Mrs. McMahill never tires of the excitement she sees on students’ faces when they discover something new in the area of science. She believes in teaching science by using every hands-on activity she can find or create. Science touches every part of the world in which we live. Science is relevant to students and Mrs. McMahill feels fortunate to be a science teacher, there is no other subject that she would like to teach.

Deanna Soukup has taught 8th grade at Bernard Campbell Middle School in the Lee’s Summit School District for most of her career. Mrs. Soukup engages all of her students in a year-long program of in-depth research for their science projects. They work in a particular field of science on a topic or problem that they are passionate about. Mrs. Soukup’s goal is that students internalize and enjoy the research and problem-solving process, and that her students are inspired to continue scientific research in the future.

Award: The Sister Martina Rockers Award of Excellence in Teaching

Winner: Mary Coogan
Description of Award:The Sister Martina Rockers Award is given annually by Ken-A-Vision to an area high school teacher who demonstrates the qualities of excellence in science teaching and student centered-ness that were exemplified by Sister Martina herself in her still continuing fifty-eight plus years of teaching at Bishop Miege High School. The award winner is nominated and selected by a blue ribbon panel of their peers. Ken-A-Vision as an international manufacturer of Microscopes and Classroom cameras is very proud to sponsor this annual award.

We are delighted to announce this year’s winner as Mary Coogan, from Liberty North High School. Mary has been teaching Biology and Chemistry for 25 years, having taught at Lincoln College Prep Academy, Kansas City, MO, and then Dalton High School, in Dalton MO, followed by Grandview High School, Grandview, MO, and then finally returned to her Alma Mater at Liberty High School. She taught for many years at Liberty High School and most recently has been instrumental in establishing the Science Department at the new Liberty North High School.

Mary has had many leadership roles in her time at Liberty, including Secondary Science Curriculum Coordinator through the district's Educational Resource Center and co-chair of the Liberty Science Department.

Mary has taught a variety of Biology and Chemistry courses, including AP Biology and College Chemistry for advanced students and Conceptual Chemistry, an introductory course for struggling learners.

During her time at Liberty, Mary established one of the most skilled competition programs in the Kansas City Metro Area. Her teams have won at events such as the Chemathon at Missouri Western State University and the Regional Science Knowledge Bowl at Rockhurst University. Her teams went to the National Science Bowl in Washington, DC, three consecutive years where her teams placed well and won the Civility Award for sportsmanship.

In the tradition of Sister Martina, Mary has shared her knowledge and skills as a science teacher with many presentations at the National Science Teachers Association meetings, Science Teachers of Missouri, and locally the Science Pioneers "ScienceWise" Program.

Mary has a deep interest and concern for her students. Besides her teaching she has served as cheerleading sponsor, IB/Dual Credit Coordinator, Club Advisor and is a regular attendee at sports events, school plays and musicals.

Mary has a deep interest and concern for her students. Besides her teaching she has served as cheerleading sponsor, IB/Dual Credit Coordinator, Club Advisor and is a regular attendee at sports events, school plays and musicals.

Mary, a Sister Martina Rockers Outstanding Science Teacher Awardee, continues the tradition of being a very worthy recipient of this prestigious award. She will receive a handsome Plaque and a significant check to use as she sees fit.

Sister Martina herself with help from Dr. Dick Wilson, Ken-A-Vision Educational Director will present the award.

Please join me in congratulating Mary Coogan as the 2011 recipient of the Sister Martina Rockers Outstanding Science Teacher Award.