Virginia Affiliation of Science Academics awards Keaton Beaumont, Dr. Jason Calhoun, and Scott Markley for exemplary contributions to science training

The Virginia Affiliation of Science Instructors (Large) selected 3 Prince William County Community Faculty (PWCS) educators to acquire its once-a-year Rise Award for exemplary contributions to science training. The Large Recognition in Science Education award, or Rise award, is offered to only a compact range of educators throughout all concentrations in Virginia colleges. Faculty directors and businesses might also be recognized for their assistance and contributions to excellent science training. On November 17, Large held its Increase awards ceremony as aspect of the Expert Improvement Institute meeting in Roanoke. These PWCS educators, picked out for Increase awards by the Huge Awards Committee, are amongst only 13 recipients in the point out for 2023:

In the elementary faculty class: Keaton Beaumont, fifth grade science trainer at Dale City Elementary College, who has been instructing at Dale City Elementary considering the fact that becoming a member of the division in 2017. Before performing in instruction, Beaumont held positions in the personal sector and served in the military services, holding these kinds of roles as Congressional Affairs officer for the Section of the Army and branch chief for compensation/entitlements for the Joint Personnel-Pentagon. Beaumont has a bachelor’s diploma in psychology from the University of Nebraska-Kearney, and master’s levels in countrywide protection and strategic experiments from the U.S. Naval War Faculty protection and strategic reports from the U.S. Army War University and elementary instruction from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix.

“I instruct to inspire excellence just about every working day in my learners, other staff members members, and the community about the faculty,” stated Beaumont. “Dale Metropolis Elementary University has official out of doors classroom spaces employed daily by the university neighborhood. The unique campus and homegrown curricula aid pupils understand about various ecosystems. I endorse environmental literacy throughout all content material areas and include pc-based discovering throughout all grade stages by means of the enhancement of resources intended to use school technological innovation as a training device. My pupils carry their units to school each day. By introducing personal computer technological know-how, the learners increased their Specifications of Understanding rating in science by in excess of 30 details very last yr. I deliver rigorous, genuine mastering, and will do whichever is necessary for each college student, each and every working day. As a teacher, I look for progress academically, skillfully, and individually by environment higher anticipations for the college students that come to my classroom.”

In the middle university group: Scott Markley, eighth quality science trainer at Fred M. Lynn Center School, joined the faculty division at the start out of the 2020-21 faculty calendar year. Prior to signing up for PWCS, he taught various subjects at the middle and higher university stage at Veritas Collegiate Academy in Beijing, China, and later on became the classics division head there. Markley has a master’s diploma in education from Arizona State University and a bachelor’s in historical past from George Mason University. He also retains digital training specialization from the College of California at Irvine.

Markley finds creative approaches to interact and link with his students. One consists of a stuffed animal named Verne that aids Markley introduce some of the a lot more abstract science principles and motivates pupils to fix hard concerns.   

“I go all in with my shared activities as if they were being genuine life,” explained Markley. “The acquire in is 100% from me, which encourages my college students to do the similar. To say I have no disgrace is to misunderstand it, mainly because the genuine shame would be if I didn’t do it. This award signifies that very good do the job is staying done in PWCS. The award just isn’t attainable with no the teachers all-around me who continuously carry me up and inspire me, and it definitely is just not achievable without the need of my students who regularly push me to be better for them.

In the esteemed science educator category: Dr. Jason Calhoun, director of the Governor’s School at Innovation Park because 2016, has served PWCS for a overall of 25 many years, such as as the supervisor of the division’s science and family existence schooling method for eight many years, and as the science department chair at Gar-Field High School for nine yrs. He retains a Ph.D. in schooling from George Mason University, with concentrations in science education leadership and in administration and supervision. He has a master’s degree in chemistry from Cornell College and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Morehouse Higher education. 

“At the Governor’s College @ Innovation Park, our mission is to have interaction college students in arduous tutorial analyze, challenge them to acquire know-how, develop knowing, think reflectively, and take intellectual and creative threats in difficulty solving. Receiving this award is a testament to how essential I feel our STEM academics are in making ready all our pupils to have influence and good results past their horizon. As a lifelong educator, I try to replicate the division values of innovation, variety, resiliency, and fairness to go on to increase prospects for all those in the upcoming technology STEM pipeline,” shared Calhoun.

Vast Rise Awards spotlight the excellent operate completed by science educators throughout the Commonwealth. They understand provider to science instruction in the individual’s school, college technique, and the Wide district in which they operate. The awards are grouped into 12 categories: distant educating elementary (pre K-5) center university (6-8) biology chemistry earth science physics environmental science at-chance learners (K-12) source instructor science educator college/university school neighborhood partnership. The quantity of awards supplied each and every calendar year is decided by the Awards Range Committee on the qualifications of individuals nominated. Awardees are invited to go to the Broad Digital PDI and will be acknowledged through the PDI. Visit the Broad internet site for extra info.