
The
National
Association
of
Geoscience
Teachers
(NAGT)
has
recognized
Charles
J.
Colgan
Sr.
High
School
earth
science
teacher,
Bonnie
Keller,
as
the
Outstanding
Earth
Science
Teacher
Award
(OEST)
winner
for
the
eastern
section.
The
eastern
section
includes
New
York,
Pennsylvania,
New
Jersey,
Maryland,
Delaware,
District
of
Columbia,
Virginia,
West
Virginia,
and
eastern
Ontario.
The
OEST
award
is
given
to
teachers
who
have
made
"exceptional
contributions
to
the
stimulation
of
interest
in
the
earth
sciences
at
the
pre-college
level,"
according
to
the
NAGT
website.
Keller
said
that
she
was
encouraged
by
colleagues
to
enter
and
was
not
expecting
the
accolades
that
followed.
"I
got
an
email
that
I
had
been
selected
not
for
the
state
award,
but
for
the
section
award."
she
said,
adding,
"I
am
so
surprised
and
honored
that
my
submission
was
received
so
well!"
She
credits
her
teaching
effectiveness
to
the
skills
she
learned
from
previous
work
with
children.
"I'm
a
clown.
Literally,"
she
said.
"In
college
I
did
children's
parties
as
a
clown
and
magician."
Keller
shared
that
she
uses
humor
in
the
classroom
to
engage
her
earth
science
students.
"I
know
that
every
student
can
learn
in
the
right
setting,
with
the
right
support,
so
I
try
to
find
that
sweet
spot."
Keller
further
credits
her
teaching
effectiveness
to
being
a
member
of
multiple
professional
science
organizations.
"Finding
a
way
to
connect
with
other
teachers
who
teach
the
same
level
and
subject
is
so
vital,
and
yet
so
easy
with
today's
technology,"
she
shared,
also
stating,
"Sometimes
teachers
feel
isolated,
but
they
shouldn't
be
-
there
are
others
out
there
who
can
support
you,
and
whom
you
can
support."
As
for
what
she
hopes
students
take
away
from
her
class,
Keller
said
that
she
wants
students
to
realize
that
all
the
systems
on
Earth
are
connected.
"I'd
really
love
to
change
the
name
of
the
course
to
Earth
Systems
Science,"
she
said.
"Learning
how
each
system
interacts
with
the
other
can
give
a
more
holistic
view
of
our
planet,"
she
added.