Massachusetts Software & Internet Council Announces Winners of Above and Beyond Awards for Local Math and Science Teachers

Business Wire, April 23, 2002

Business/Technology Editors

NEWTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 23, 2002

15 Middle School Math and Science Teachers Win $1,000 Grants; One

Teacher honored with first $10,000 Stipend

The Education Foundation of the Massachusetts Software & Internet Council today announced the 15 winners of its annual Above and Beyond Awards. The Foundation's unique program recognizes and rewards outstanding math and science teachers in grades six through eight. Dr. David Driscoll, Massachusetts Commissioner of Education, presented this year's Above and Beyond Awards at the Council's Spring Membership Meeting, held today at the Newton Marriott Hotel.

One middle school science teacher received the foundation's top award--a $10,000 stipend--to document, further develop and package award-winning teaching practices that can be broadly disseminated and integrated into the curriculum across the state. All 15 teachers from across the state won $1,000 grants for classroom use.

David A. Blohm, President of the Council's Education Foundation, said, "We received a record number of nominations for Above and Beyond Awards from every corner of the state. Members of our Science and Technology Advisory Committee reviewed each one and selected the 15 middle school math and science teachers who use best practices, unique projects, creative materials, and innovative technology in the classroom."

The $10,000 Above and Beyond Award was awarded to:

-- Joann C. Blum, a science teacher at Thomas Prince School,

Princeton, who created a nature trail project that uses

transmitters and GPS units to track spotted turtles in the

Wachusett Meadows Mass Audubon Sanctuary. For the last ten years,

Blum has been selected by National Honor Society inductees as the

teacher "who is making the most significant impact" in their

school career. In 2001 she received the Christa McAuliffe

Fellowship award.

The additional 14 Above and Beyond Awards went to:

-- Gina Andrade, a math and science teacher at Morse Pond School, Falmouth;

-- Kenneth L. Duffy, a science teacher at The Parker Middle School, Chelmsford;


-- Fred Erickson, a math teacher at Searles Middle School, Great Barrington;

-- Cathy Graham, a math and science teacher at Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter
School, Orleans;

-- John King, a science teacher at Edith N. Rogers Middle School, Lowell;

-- Charles Lindgren, a science teacher at Gates Intermediate School, Scituate;

-- Diane Mason, a science teacher at JFK Middle School, Hudson;

-- Charity Murphy, a science teacher at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle
School, Boston

-- Diane C. Perito, a science teacher at Beebe School, Malden;

-- Warren Phillips, a science teacher at Plymouth Community Intermediate
School, Plymouth;

-- Dr. Mette Schwartz, a science teacher at Memorial Middle School, Beverly;

-- Deirdre Scott, a science teacher at Fairview Veterans Memorial Middle
School, Chicopee;

-- Myriam Skolnick, a science teacher at Magnet Middle School, Holyoke; and

-- Erica D. Voolich, a math teacher at Solomon Schechter Day School, Newton.

In addition to the award and $10,000 stipend, Ms. Blum will also receive a professional development scholarship from Lesley University. All the winners will receive educational software from The School Group of Riverdeep-The Learning Company, $1,000 grants and a plaque for their schools, a free professional development and training workshop from WebCT and memberships from Massachusetts Computer Using Educators (MassCUE).

The Massachusetts Software & Internet Council has a history of leadership in assisting K-12 schools in the area of technology education. The Council launched its Education Foundation in 1996, and the Foundation has presented "Above and Beyond Awards" each year since then. Past award winners have included teachers, principals, librarians, volunteers and others who are leading the way in merging education and technology.