Children & Nature network

Natural Teacher Award Nominees Use Leadership, Dedication and Creativity to Get Children into Nature

– November 01, 2010

The C&NN Natural Teachers Award was established to honor K-12 teachers in public schools who:

• Demonstrate an effective and creative approach to taking students outdoors in nature for learning and inspiration
• Provide opportunities for students to develop a sense of curiosity and understanding through direct experience in nature
• Serve as role models in building a relationship with the natural world
• Inspire other teachers to take their students outdoors in nature
• Inspire support from administrators for nature-based learning

The first pilot Natural Teachers Award program took place in the San Francisco Bay Area. Top honors went to Larry Volpe, a 5th grade teacher at Daniel Lairon Elementary School in Santa Clara County. Dennis Dowling (Wilcox High School, Santa Clara County), Halo Shapiro Smart (REAL Academy, Redwood High School, San Mateo County), and Rona Zollinger (Environmental Studies Academy, Briones School, Contra Costa County) were named as finalists from a field of 23 nominees.

The Natural Teachers Award recipient will receive an educational voyage to the Galapagos Islands with Lindblad Expeditions & National Geographic. Finalists will receive five hundred dollars each.

Read about the winner, finalists and nominees:

Winner

Larry Volpe, Dan Larion Elementary School, Santa Clara


Finalists

Dennis Dowling, Wilcox High School, Santa Clara


Halo Shapiro Smart, Redwood High School REAL Academy, San Mateo


Rona Zollinger, Briones School Environmental Studies Academy, Contra Costa



Nominees

Jean Moshofsky Butler, Lakeshore Elementary, San Francisco


Devin Carberry, ARISE High School, Alameda


Ayesha Ercelawn, Tule Elk Park Child School, San Francisco


Tom Fairchild, Washington Elementary School, Alameda


Karen Gaffney, North Star Academy, San Mateo


Karen Gibson, Thornhill Elementary School, Alameda


David Hicks, Barack Obama Academy, Alameda


Heidi Jenkins, Rooftop K-8 Alternative School, San Francisco


Jill Johnson, Urban Promise Academy, Alameda


Kevin Keedy, Hacienda Environmental Science Magnet School, Santa Clara


Janine Lee, Brisbane Elementary School, San Mateo


David Reese, Elmhurst Community Prep, Alameda


Anne Siskin, Willow Creek Academy, Marin


Barbara Susco, Duveneck Elementary School, Santa Clara


Brett Wilson, ASCEND, Alameda


Jonathan Winter, Lafayette Elementary School, Contra Costa




Judy Adler, N/A, Diablo Nature Adventures, Contra Costa


Jamie Lockton, N/A, Caterpillar Kids Club, San Mateo


Drew McAdams, N/A San Francisco SFSU

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