Teachable Moments: November 2021

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

NCSTA Awards Ceremony Features Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, Recognizes Teachers and Nonformal Environmental Educators

Join the North Carolina Science Teachers Association for a very special awards ceremony Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 4:00 pm Eastern. The virtual event is free and open to the public but registration is required (https://www.ncsta.org).

This year's event will feature guest speaker Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, COVID-19 researcher and lead developer of the Moderna Vaccine. Born in North Carolina and a graduate of Orange High School in Hillsborough, Dr. Corbett received her PhD in microbiology and immunology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While in high school, Dr. Corbett participated in the North Carolina section of the Project SEED (Summer Experiences for the Economically Disadvantaged) program for students, and credits it for sparking her interest in a STEM career. She recently joined Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health as an assistant professor in the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases.

NCSTA will be presenting awards to teachers, administrators, nonformal educators and other individuals who exhibit leadership in science education and contribute to improvements in the field.

The North Carolina Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs congratulates all the NCSTA winners, but would like to recognize these four educators dedicated to environmental education:

Annette Steele and Renee Pagoota-Wight

Annette Steele, Lincoln Heights Environmental Connections Magnet Elementary (Wake County), will be presented with the 2021 NCSTA District 3 Outstanding Elementary School Science Teacher Award and Renee Pagoota-Wight, Sherrills Ford Elementary School (Catawba County), will be presented the NCSTA District 7 Outstanding Elementary School Science Teacher Award. This award is given to a person exhibiting leadership in science education; contributing to improvements in science education; and excelling in the aspects of science education.

Steele and Pagoota-Wight are also North Carolina Certified Environmental Educators through the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs administered program.

Matthew Poston

Matthew Poston of Walkertown Middle School (Forsyth County) will be presented the NCSTA District 5 Outstanding Middle School Science Teacher. Poston enrolled in 2021 and is actively pursuing his North Carolina Environmental Educator Certification.

Tanya Poole, Regional Education Specialist for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and a state Project WILD coordinator, will receive the NCSTA Distinguished Service in Science Education in a Non-school Setting for her work as a non-formal educator providing professional development and support to classroom teachers. Poole is a North Carolina Certified Environmental Educator and serves on the NC Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs Environmental Education Certification Committee. Tanya her NCWRC educator colleagues are essential partners in the North Carolina Environmental Education Certification Program.

Tanya in field with dogs, Tanya in stream study

Tanya Poole

Please register for the event and join us in congratulating these and all the award winners!

About the Office

The N.C. Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs provides an environmental education clearinghouse, or central source, for all of the environmental education resources in the state. The office manages the N.C. Environmental Education Certification Program and serves as a liaison to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. The office serves PreK-12 schools, colleges and universities, government agencies, non-profit organizations, environmental education centers, citizen groups, business and industry, libraries and the general public. The office is part of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality in Raleigh.