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Millie Blandford When Millie Blandford saw how much her daughter disliked her middle school science class — taught solely through textbook instruction — she knew there had to be a better way. So Blandford became a science teacher herself, determined to teach the subject in a more lively manner to leave students with lasting impressions of lessons and experiences that would help shape their futures and illuminate the world around them. Today her ninth graders shoot rubber bands to visualize Newton’s Laws, camouflage butterflies all over the school for other students to find and collaborate with the chemistry class to “adopt an element.” It’s these strategies that excite, motivate and challenge her students. In 2004, she was named Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, and Incentive Publications published her science resource guide. In 2005, she made the Who’s Who list twice, received Campbellsville University’s Teacher of Excellence award and celebrated when Science Kit produced two science activities she designed. |
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Andrea Broyles Fourth-grade teacher Andrea Broyles was inspired to teach elementary science because of the lack of quality, hands-on science instruction at the lower grade levels — especially in the rural Appalachian area of Eastern Kentucky. She believes that the love of science must be instilled early in the lives of her students. For the past 10 years, she has provided a variety of engaging activities including the use of real-life lab equipment and exposure to relative science situations. Her summer science camp sessions include dissection, among other activities. Broyles has conducted science workshops for fellow teachers. In 2002, she traveled to Puerto Rico to conduct environmental research on behalf of Kentucky’s Murray State University |
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Joshua Underwood “Science is learning how the world works around you,” says high school physical sciences teacher Joshua Underwood. “The world is exciting and so should science be when taught.” Since 2000, Underwood’s students have learned by investigating the world through a variety of labs. They’ve tested everything from concrete strength to the percentage of water in popcorn in attempts to better understand the materials they are exposed to every day. Underwood traces his love of science back to his childhood when he would arrive at his family’s milk barn with armloads of rocks instead of the cows. This love has taken him across the United States, Costa Rica and Iceland to engage in educational opportunities that he now shares with his students. |
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Fred Whittaker Growing up in a household headed by a professor of parasitology, Fred Whittaker spent family vacations collecting research data, including gathering parasites from road kill. Whittaker uses his deep-rooted knowledge of science, passion for teaching and a love for children to fulfill his personal mission to make the world a more peaceful place. Whittaker weaves social justice awareness into his science curriculum. He and mentors from several science fields help sixth, seventh and eighth graders pursue rigorous science fair projects on environmental, health and social issues. In 2005, the Anne Frank Foundation honored him with the Educator’s Spirit of Anne Frank Award. In 2006, the Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge recognized him for Outstanding Science Mentoring when one of his students won the national Discovery Commerce “Sights to See” award. In fact, of the five semifinalists in Kentucky, three were Whittaker’s students. |
