Teachers win A+ for Energy scholarships

June 17, 2009 — Five CFISD teachers were named Texas’ winning teachers in the 2009 A+ for Energy program, sponsored by BP.

The A+ for Energy program was developed to recognize teachers for innovation and excellence in teaching energy conservation in the classroom. BP awards up to $5 million each year in grants and scholarships to pre-K through 12th-grade teachers who create innovative projects focused on energy.

The teachers will receive either a $5,000 or $10,000 grant for their proposed energy-saving projects, an all-expenses paid three-day Energy Training Conference and materials for their classrooms valued at $500 and more.

The following CFISD teachers won A+ for Energy scholarships:

• Bang Elementary School teacher Jeanetta Mieth, for her project “S.T.O.M.P. T.H.I.S.” (Start Treating Our Home Planet with the Respect it Deserves). The schoolwide project for K-5 students will explore the benefits and importance of recycling, and allow each music class to learn and perform songs about recycling. The grant will allow for the purchase of necessary equipment and materials for 976 students to make and decorate recycled instruments, which will be used to accompany songs about recycling.

• Arnold Middle School teacher Mary Patterson, for her project “Our Potential is Growing.” The project will culminate with a powerful event, “An Evening of Energy,” led by student leaders who share what they have learned about energy. Arnold will involve the community by signing up energy star pledges and collecting old CFL bulbs for proper disposal. Patterson will supplement the curriculum with materials to help students design a plan to manage energy resources, demonstrate energy transformations and the cycling of matter within living systems—such as the decay of biomass in a compost column and in biodiesel fuels.

• Millsap Elementary School teacher Carmela Simmons, for her project “Mustangs Race Toward a Brighter Future.” The project will use high school students as volunteer mentors to help first-grade students learn about the science of energy through hands-on experiments and improve their language arts skills. Students will make wind toys, tend a worm farm, explore rocks and fossils, measure energy usage and recycling in the school, and race solar cars.

• Reed Elementary School teacher Rhoda Goldberg, for her project “EmPOWERing Students.” The project will provide real-world connections for students, who will participate in many hands-on, inquiry-based activities that will allow them the freedom of choice and creativity. The major project will be to create booths and present at a school-wide “Energy Fair.” To stimulate interest in the fair, the fifth-grade students will visit K-4 classrooms to demonstrate fun activities they have prepared, show prizes and share highlights of the fair.

• Smith Middle School teacher Doreen Jarvis, for her project “Exploring Our Potential!” The project will allow for a professional development workshop that allows additional knowledge and curriculum ideas about energy resources and conservation. Smith will use new resources as teaching tools for at-risk and struggling students. Some will participate in tutorial sessions called “Science College” to prepare for teaching their energy resource. The school year will culminate with an energy carnival for current middle school students and future sixth-grade students to generate excitement about science.