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2021 WSST Awards and Recognition
WSST Awards and Recognition
by Laura Ramthun and Miranda Dahlke This spring, the Awards and Recognition Committee recognized winners of the 2020 Ron Gibbs Award and the 2021 Ron Gibbs Award, Excellence in Science Teaching Awards, the Friend of Science Education Award, and the Frank Zuerner New Science Teacher Award and Scholarship. We congratulate the following winners who were recognized in the virtual Awards Ceremony on March 11, 2021.
2020 Ron Gibbs Award: Dr. Karen Mesmer
Dr. Karen Mesmer, a recent retiree of the Baraboo School District, was an integral part of the success of the science departments at the middle and high school levels. Starting as a middle level instructor, Karen thrived on the curiosity of her students. As she progressed through her career into the world of district administration, she also consulted with the state in development of standards based on NGSS. Dr. Mesmer’s favorite part of her career continues to cite her time in the classroom as the most meaningful part of her career. Noting her impact in the district, Dr. Nicholas Karls said, “I truly believe there is not a single educator, student, parent, or community member who has worked with Dr. Mesmer that doesn’t wholeheartedly believe she deserves this recognition.” 2021 Ron Gibbs Award: Dr. Kevin Niemi
Dr. Kevin Niemi began his involvement in Wisconsin science education with his creation and management of BioNet. From there, he became a strong advocate for science education, holding many positions of leadership in WSST throughout his career, including his current role as CFO for the organization. Recognizing the importance of supporting educator development, he strongly supported the implementation of grants and scholarships as offerings for educators from WSST during his tenure as president. Michelle Griffin-Wenzel, the WSST Membership Chair, stated “Kevin embodies the mission of WSST: ‘To Promote Science Education in Wisconsin’, through his work across the state but also throughout the United States. … I can’t even begin to imagine how many people have participated in one of Kevin’s sessions and have been inspired by his passion for science and science education.”
2021 Excellence in Science Teaching Awards: Dr. Jamie Schneider, Dr. Tanzeem Ali, and Jennifer Bault
Dr. Jamie Schneider, an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at UW-River Falls, was recognized for her impact in Chemistry education at both the secondary and post-secondary levels. She is
engaged in research exploring the role of assessment as a tool for learning, not just collecting data on student progress, and she is involved in development of the Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning model of instruction for chemistry. Dr. Joel D. Donna noted, “Jamie is a tireless advocate for helping improve science teaching and learning. She is a true collaborator that works across disciplines in ways that directly and indirectly impact student learning throughout Wisconsin and the world.” Dr. Tanzeem Ali is an Assistant Professor of Science Education at UWSuperior, where she works with pre-service teachers and has designed curriculum to support their success in taking on their own classrooms. Her classes address elementary through secondary education promoting the 5E instructional model. After being introduced to WSST, she has been an active member, presenting at the annual conference, helping on the 2020 conference committee, and participating with the Elementary Science Education Committee. Acknowledging Dr. Ali’s dedication, Dr. Rebecca L. Franzen stated, “Through all of my interactions with Dr. Ali, I have seen a creative and confident educator who wants the best for her students and is working to improve science and environmental education in Wisconsin.” Jennifer Bault, an AP Biology and Environmental Science educator at Nicolet High School, was recognized for the quality of science education she provides, enhanced by her experiences in Antarctica, San Diego, and Tanzania. She strives to expose students to authentic research experiences, and greatly supports her peer educators in the area as well. Her former student, Natalie Weeks, acknowledged Ms. Bault’s role in her choice to become a teacher, “This woman truly embodies what it means to be a science educator and has inspired me to pursue this passion as well.”
The AnnMarie Foundation is an independent philanthropic organization committed to enhancing the quality of life in the Wisconsin communities it serves. The foundation provides monetary awards to schools and non-profit organizations to promote educational, humanitarian, cultural, and recreational activities. The foundation also provides scholarships to high school graduates. Rachel A. Sauvola, Agriscience Teacher and SOAR Educational Center Leader, acknowledged the support of the AnnMarie Foundation with the following: “As an Agriscience Instructor I have 16 different classes in my repertoire. It takes an incredible amount of tools to be able to offer hands-on experiences for students in that many courses. ... I am able to teach hands-on science principles through a variety of means and am thankful for the assistance I have received from the AnnMarie Foundation.”
Tiffany Lissick began her teaching career in the fall of 2020, under the conditions of COVID instruction. She emphasized the importance of creating a culture of learning where students feel safe to take risks and explore the world around them. She pulls on her varied experiences in teaching in other countries and undergraduate research to make connections for kids and show them the opportunities that exist through science. Her principal, Douglas E. Hatch stated, “Tiffany has a way about her which makes people of all ages, especially her students feel safe and included. Her ability to connect with her students and her talent at teaching simple concepts, as well as more advanced topics, are both impressive for such a young educator.”
Do you have a colleague you wish to nominate? Nominations for the coming year are accepted at any time through the first Friday in December of each year. See the WSST website for links to nominate at www.wsst.org/awards
