2009 OUTSTANDING HIGH SCHOOL

CHEMISTRY TEACHER AWARD

The Trenton and Princeton ACS sections have been jointly sponsoring the Outstanding High School Chemistry Teacher Award since 2006.  The purpose of the award is to recognize the work and dedication of chemistry teachers in area schools.  Two “Outstanding Teachers” are selected, one representing each section.

Early in the year, teachers and science supervisors from area schools were asked to nominate teachers they felt were worthy of special recognition.  The criteria considered in selecting the teachers were teaching quality, ability to challenge and inspire students, extracurricular work in chemistry, including science fairs, science clubs, and other activities that stimulate the interest of young people in chemistry and related sciences, a willingness to keep up-to-date in the field, and evidence of leadership and/or active involvement within the profession.

We are proud to announce that this year’s winners are Jeannette Jones from Hunterdon Central Regional HS and Brian Patterson from West Windsor-Plainsboro HS South.  Presentation of the awards took place on Thursday, May 14, 2009 at the meeting of the Princeton ACS. Each awardees received a plaque and check for $250.

Jeannette Jones has a BA in Chemistry with minors in German and Education from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa.  She began teaching in 1968 and has been a teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional HS since 1986.  She has participated in numerous extracurricular activities including Chemistry Olympics advisor 1987-2004 and program developer and advisor for “Science on Line” magazine ( student created web pages featuring articles in physics, chemistry and biology) from 1995-2000.  In recent years she has helped to create and perform what has become an annual chemistry demonstration at Hunterdon Central.

As described in her nomination letter “she has a terrific sense of humor, a wonderful rapport with her students and uses positive reinforcement constantly in her classroom.  She sets high expectations that prepare students for the rigor of future chemistry courses as evidenced by her students’ performance on the ACS exam.”

Brian Patterson received a BA in Chemistry in 2000 and an MEd in Science Education in 2001 from Rutgers University.  He has been teaching chemistry at West Windsor-Plainsboro HS South since 2001.  He is an advocate for the thoughtful use of technology in education and has developed a number of web based lab activities for Chemistry Honors and other curriculum.  He is a GLOBE Certified teacher (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) and as part of a NASA grant is developing teaching material that utilizes GLOBE resources, emphasizing an Earth Systems Science approach. 

In his nomination letter he was described as “an engaging, caring and talented teacher…...  He can explain the most complex chemistry concepts in language that students understand.”