
The
Virginia
Association
of
Science
Teachers
(VAST)
has
recognized
Debra
Peterman,
an
eighth-grade
physical
science
teacher
and
Virginia
Junior
Academy
of
Science
sponsor
at
Benton
Middle
School,
for
her
exemplary
contributions
to
quality
science
education.
Peterman
received
the
Recognition
in
Science
Education
(RISE)
award
in
the
middle
school
teacher
category
at
the
VAST
Professional
Development
Institute,
recently
held
virtually.
Peterman
has
made
many
contributions
to
science
education
and
is
known
as
a
mentor
and
support
for
her
students
and
colleagues.
Her
nominator
states
that
Peterman's
students
look
up
to
her
as
a
role
model
in
the
classroom
and
she
shares
her
knowledge
with
fellow
educators.
Peterman
was
recently
published
in
the
Journal
of
Emerging
Investigators
(PDF)
with
a
former
student,
Rania
Lateef
(who
currently
attends
Charles
J.
Colgan
Sr.
High
School).
Peterman
holds
a
bachelor's
degree
in
biology
education
and
a
master's
in
guidance
and
counseling
from
Virginia
Commonwealth
University.
She
joined
PWCS
in
1989
as
a
school
counselor
at
Rippon
Middle
School
but
moved
to
teaching
after
five
years.
She
has
been
at
Benton
Middle
since
it
opened
in
1999.
Peterman's
husband,
Thomas
Peterman,
also
a
PWCS
teacher,
retired
this
past
June
after
49
years
of
teaching
middle
school
physical
education.
In
support
of
her
nomination
for
the
RISE
Award,
Shan
Lateef,
one
of
Peterman's
former
students
who
is
currently
a
freshman
at
Yale
University,
wrote,
"Not
only
did
she
guide
us
through
the
hands-on
work
in
school,
but
she
also
accompanied
us
each
year
to
competitions
across
the
state,
such
as
the
Virginia
Junior
Academy
of
Science.
Mrs.
Peterman
always
kept
in
touch
with
me
-
enquiring,
supporting,
and
cheering
me
on.
I
learned
from
Mrs.
Peterman
that
science
is
a
journey
not
a
destination,
and
it
has
no
final
ending
but
rather
it
is
a
continuous
source
of
amazement
and
learning."
VAST
RISE
Awards
are
presented
to
spotlight
the
excellent
work
done
by
science
educators
across
Virginia
and
recognize
service
to
science
education
in
the
individual's
school,
school
system,
and
the
VAST
district
in
which
the
recipient
works.
The
number
of
awards
given
each
year
is
determined
by
a
selection
committee
based
on
the
nominee's
qualifications.