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Anti-science education legislation in 2022 Oklahoma legislature
OESE Kudos
OESE congratulates Caryn Vaughn, named a 2023 Fellow by the Ecological Society of America. Caryn is George Lynn Cross Professor, University of Oklahoma, Department of Biology and Oklahoma Biological Survey
Caryn Vaughn is a stream ecologist interested in the connections between biodiversity and ecosystem function, and how properly functioning ecosystems benefit humans. Most of her work has focused on unionid mussels, a highly diverse and imperiled fauna that serve as hotspots of biological activity in many rivers.
OESE congratulates Jason Wang and Samantha Bacon and their teachers Mark Wang and Donna Deason for winning the OESE award at the 2022 Oklahoma State Science and Engineering Fair. Jason attends the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics and Samantha attends Grove Middle School.
OESE congratulates Jeanetta Sims, dean of the UCO Jackson College of Graduate Studies, and Luis Montes, professor of chemistry at UCO, who have been named 2022 DaVinci Fellows.
The award recognizes higher education faculty whose creative, innovative accomplishments have made a significant contribution to their academic disciplines.
Montes was recognized for his approaches in transformative learning. As a recipient, he will receive a $1,000 grant to apply toward his fellowship project titled “Identifying Characteristics of High-quality IVE/Synchronous Virtual Courses.” This project will launch a series of workshops sharing examples of interactive video/synchronous virtual courses.
The DaVinci Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing the arts, sciences, humanities and education in Oklahoma.
OESE congratulates the Oklahoma winners of the $25,000 Milken Awards. Science teacher Tamarah Danzy and principal Aubrey Flowers received the national Milken Educator Award at Tulsa Union on April 8.
Danzy teaches science at the Union Eighth Grade Center in Broken Arrow, within the Union Public Schools district. She has been teaching for 14 years, serves as science department chair and coaches the varsity cheerleading squad.
“Tamarah believes in every one of her students and motivates them to master essential skills needed in science and engineering,” said Hofmeister, who surprised Danzy with the honor this afternoon. “She prepares her young learners to be ready for college and career through engaging, hands-on lessons that they can build on in high school, and she challenges them to research and discover on their own. Tamarah is a model teacher in Oklahoma. We are so delighted that she has been recognized as a Milken Educator.”
OESE congratulates the two Oklahoma teachers who have been named recipients of the prestigious Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). PAEMST is the highest recognition in the nation a K-12 mathematics or science educator may receive for outstanding teaching.
Jennifer Donwerth of Edmond Public Schools (mathematics) and
Karla White of Bethany Public Schools (science) will receive $10,000 from the National Science Foundation as part of the PAEMST honor.
Jennifer Donwerth teaches second grade at Centennial Elementary in Edmond Public Schools. She loves incorporating technology into student learning. Donwerth has been teaching for 15 years.
Karla White teaches fifth grade at Earl Harris Elementary in Bethany Public Schools. White is a Science Improvement Fellow for the Oklahoma Excel Program, Oklahoma Science Teaching Association President (OSTA) and has been OSTA’s Oklahoma Elementary Science Teacher of the Year.
OESE congratulates Regional University/Community College Teaching winner Dr. David Bass, professor of biology, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond at the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence 35th Academic Awards.
A leading expert in aquatic invertebrates, Bass teaches courses ranging from beginning biology and ecology to invertebrate zoology and aquatic entomology. He also coaches UCO’s competitive sailing team.
“Even though Bass has been a professor at UCO for 35 years, he still works as if he were a green Ph.D. starting his first semester of teaching,” said Dr. Wei Chen, dean of the UCO College of Mathematics and Science. “He treats each class as a new adventure, constantly revising lecture notes, adding new contents and experimenting with new delivery approaches.”
OESE congratulates Caryn Vaughn, a George Lynn Cross Distinguished Research Professor and Presidential Professor in the Department of Biology and Oklahoma Biological Survey, for her selection as a 2021 Society for Freshwater Science Fellow.
“SFS Fellows are those who have led, shaped, and inspired the field of freshwater science,” said Alonso Ramirez, president of the Society for Freshwater Science. “These scientists have been recognized for game-changing contributions to our field.”
“They have pushed the boundaries of freshwater science in research, teaching, policy, and management and have advanced our understanding in these areas,” he added. “They have also built and supported networks of scientific collaboration, increasing the capacity and reach of our science.”
OKLAHOMA EVOLUTION/CLIMATE NEWS–DECEMBER 2020
OKLAHOMA EVOLUTION/CLIMATE NEWS–SEPTEMBER 2020
OKLAHOMA EVOLUTION/CLIMATE NEWS–AUGUST 2020
OKLAHOMA EVOLUTION/CLIMATE NEWS–JULY 2020
OKLAHOMA EVOLUTION/CLIMATE NEWS–JUNE 2020
OESE congratulates Mark Howery of the Oklahoma Department on Wildlife Conservation for having a newly recognized subspecies of dragonfly named for him
“We’re pleased to name this new subspecies in honor of Mark Howery, for his decades of dedication and important contributions to conservation of nongame wildlife in the state of Oklahoma,” said Smith.
Howery has been a part of the Wildlife Department’s conservation efforts for the past 28 years, focusing on our state’s rare, declining and endangered species along with common species that aren’t hunted or fished. Coverage at Claremore Daily Progress, KFOR, and Tulsa World. ODWC press release here.
OESE congratulates OESE Award winners at 2020 Oklahoma State Science and Engineering Fair
OKLAHOMA CLIMATE/EVOLUTION NEWS–MAY 2020
OKLAHOMA CLIMATE/EVOLUTION NEWS–APRIL 2020
OKLAHOMA EVOLUTION/CLIMATE NEWS–MARCH 2020
OESE Congratulates the 2020 winners of Oklahoma Medal for Excellence Award
The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence has announced the recipients of its 2020 Oklahoma Medal for Excellence Award. The five Oklahoma public school educators are being recognized for their academic excellence, innovation and impact.
Each of the five honorees will receive a $5,000 cash prize and a glass “Roots and Wings” sculpture, designed by the late Oklahoma artist Ron Roberts and produced by Artistic Glass Studio of Edmond.
This year’s Medal for Excellence honorees are: Michelle Rahn, Shelley Self, Chuck McCauley, Dr. David Bass and Dr. Edralin Lucas.
Michelle Rahn, recipient of the Oklahoma Medal for Excellence in Elementary Teaching, teaches sixth-grade STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) at Will Rogers Junior High in Claremore.
Shelley Self, the Medal for Excellence in Secondary Teaching recipient, is a National Board Certified teacher and art educator at Coweta High School for 28 years.
Chuck McCauley, superintendent of Bartlesville Public Schools. Is the recipient of the Medal for Excellence in Elementary/Secondary Administration.
Dr. David Bass, a professor of biology and curator of invertebrates at the University of Central Oklahoma, is the recipient of the Oklahoma Medal for Excellence in Teaching at a Regional University/Community College. A leading expert in aquatic invertebrates, Bass teaches courses ranging from beginning biology and ecology to invertebrate zoology and aquatic entomology. Bass is the former long-time executive director of the Oklahoma Acacdemy of Science.
Dr. Edralin Lucas, the Jim and Lynne Williams Endowed Professor of Nutritional Sciences at Oklahoma State University, is the recipient of the Medal for Excellence in Teaching at a Research University.
Congratulations to all the award winners.
OKLAHOMA EVOLUTION/CLIMATE NEWS–FEBRUARY 2020
Jim Huff has died
OESE is sad to report that charter OESE Board member Jim Huff has died. His obituary reads:
“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of James Huff (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), who passed away on January 30, 2020, at the age of 79, leaving to mourn family and friends. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. You may also light a candle in honor of James Huff or send a beautiful flower arrangement to the funeral service.
“Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 5th 2020 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Resthaven Funeral Home (500 SW 104th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73139). A memorial service will be held on Thursday, February 6th 2020 at 11:00 AM at the First Baptist Church (1201 N Robinson Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73103).”
https://www.everhere.com/us/obituaries/ok/oklahoma-city/james-huff-10349263
Reflecting on Jim’s well-lived life, Dr. Victor Hutchison — who was friends with Jim for over 40 years — wrote, “He was a charter Board member of OESE and attended almost all meetings since the beginning.” Jim personally led the successful fight in Mustang “to stop the public schools from introducing the creationist program designed by Steve Green (founder of Bible Museum in DC and head of Hobby Lobby); he organized a public hearing in” Mustang, a hearing “that was the final blow that stopped the plan.”
“Jim was a real fighter for just causes, active and office holder in Oklahoma AU and Interfaith Alliance. Present at many hearings where he could be depended upon to offer valid comment. As a former social studies teacher, he constantly worked for education funding. You may recall that he attended many of OESE teacher workshops. I could go on.”
OKLAHOMA EVOLUTION/CLIMATE NEWS–DECEMBER 2019
OKLAHOMA EVOLUTION/CLIMATE NEWS–NOVEMBER 2019
OESE congratulates Oklahoma recipients of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
On October 15, 2019, the White House announced the most recent recipients of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
Gena Barnhill Oklahoma City, OK | K-6, Mathematics, 2018. Gena Barnhill has taught elementary students for 13 years. For the past year, she has taught fifth grade mathematics and science at Lakeview Elementary School. Previously, she taught for 12 years at Rollingwood Elementary School. Gena’s love of teaching mathematics and science helped her develop a STEM project focus for her students over the last several years. She helped initiate her school’s family STEM night and afterschool mathematics clubs. She continues to help students with free afterschool tutoring, during which students work on projects to develop their mathematics skills.
Jayci Harris Ada, OK | K-6, Science, 2018. Jayci Harris has been an elementary educator for seven years and has spent that time teaching at Homer Elementary. This coming school year she will take on a new position as District STEM Coordinator for Byng Public Schools and will teach first through sixth grades. This new position will allow Jayci to implement and incorporate more STEM-related activities within her district. Jayci sees the importance of spreading STEM education to students throughout her community and has implemented an afterschool robotics program.
Megan Cannon Sapulpa, OK | 7-12, Science, 2017. Megan Cannon has been in education for eight years. Since 2017, she has served as the Director of Science and Engineering Education for the Oklahoma State Department of Education. Prior to her current position, she taught STEM classes at Sapulpa Middle School for two years. She has also taught at Freedom Elementary School and Jefferson Heights Elementary School. Megan’s passion for science extended throughout Sapulpa Public Schools as she was instrumental in bringing the elementary district science fair back to the district. In her final years in Sapulpa, she helped transition the science fair into an inventor’s showcase which allowed students to design a solution to a real-world problem.
Julie Klingensmith Norman, OK | 7-12, Mathematics, 2017. Julie Klingensmith has been an educator for nearly 17 years and has taught at Norman High School for 15 years. Previously, she taught at Capps Middle School and Highland East Junior High. She currently teaches 10-12th-grade Precalculus, AP Calculus, and AEGIS, a two-year honors mathematics course where she serves as a mentor, instructor, and college counselor. Julie is a leader on the district mathematics advisory board and staff development committee. She is an Oklahoma Council of Teachers of Mathematics board member and previously served as president. In addition, Julie was the 2009 Norman High Teacher of the Year, 2010 Mathematics Association of America Oklahoma Teacher of the Year, and received the 2017 University of Oklahoma Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education Young Educator Award. Julie consistently plans and presents at conferences to improve her methods and help educators across the state.
OESE congratulates Friend of Darwin Award winner Jim Krupa
Jim Krupa, Professor of Biology at the University of Kentucky was named one of the Friend of Darwin Awards by the National Center for Science Education. “Jim Krupa is a biology instructor par excellence, teaching literally tens of thousands of students over the last two decades — with evolution always front and center,” commented NCSE’s executive director Ann Reid. Jim received has Ph.D. at the University of Oklahoma under the direction of Charles Carpenter.
OESE congratulates Victor Hutchison, winner of the 2019 Henry S. Fitch Award for Excellence in Herpetology
OESE Founder and current Board member Victor Hutchison was awarded the Henry S. Fitch Award for Excellence in Herpetology from the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists at their annual meeting in Snowbird, Utah. The award is given to an individual for long-term excellence in the study of amphibian and/or reptile biology, based principally on the quality of the awardee’s research; consideration is also given to educational and service impacts of the individual’s career. Congratulations, Vic!
Courtney Griffin wins the Edward L. and Thelma Gaylord Prize for Scientific Excellence
OESE congratulates Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Courtney Griffin who received the Edward L. and Thelma Gaylord Prize for Scientific Excellence. After postdoctoral training at the University of North Carolina, she joined Oklahoma Medical Researsch Foundation in 2008. Her work focuses on genes that regulate blood and lymphatic vessels, work that has implications for heart disease, aneurysms, cancer and toxic drug overdose. She also serves as scientific director of the Oklahoma Center for Adult Stem Cell Research.
OESE Board member Jeff Hamilton has died.
Long-time OESE Board member Jeff Hamilton died on Saturday, January 25. Hamilton was a former state legislator and metro minister.
He also was a longtime member of First Christian Church of Oklahoma City (Disciples of Christ) and served as the church’s associate pastor for more than 20 years.
Hamilton served as president of the Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma for eight years. He was well known in the Oklahoma interfaith community for promoting greater understanding among people of all faiths and for championing the religious liberties of the state’s minority faith communities.
He will be missed at OESE.
More info at newsok.com. Obituary here.
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