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Jackie Bilan, strives to keep students working competitively and thinking critically in sciences so that they can be better prepared for the challenges ahead in the 21st Century.
Jackie weaves critical thinking and problem solving into real world science-based scenarios stimulates student learning. By using a variety of college lab level science learning tools – such as PowerPoint, oil immersion microscopes, spectrophotometers, analytical balances, gel electrophoresis, and bacterial transformation with genes, she stretches the scope of high school biology and animal behaviors in order to prepare students for a seamless transition into college.
As a co-advisor for MESA, Jackie is also dedicated to exposing students from under-represented populations to various science and engineering careers and activities.
Developing university and community partnerships, Jackie’s students have been able to explore wide scopes of science endeavors. Under her direction, students have done field testing of the St.Vrain River with Trout Unlimited and the City of Longmont and field trips to work on cadavers with CSU, The Spine Institute and Exempla Good Samaritan hospital. A local veterinarian shares career expertise and helps with AP cat dissections, - and a physicist participates in Super Science Saturday to help her students explore optics.
Congratulations to Jackie Bilan
Jason Gage, Spangler Elementary, is a teacher whose passion is more than simply teaching art, it is developing student thinking about their life and their world through a lens of art.
Jason works closely with classroom teachers to gain first-hand knowledge of their curriculum. Informed that “understanding symmetry” is a fifth grade math standard, for example, Jason began the year by introducing symmetry in art as a way of building background for students months before the math concept was taught in math.
This educator builds a bridge to learning for students coming from a variety of backgrounds. Oral language skills are developed by way of an artist’s chair. In the artist chair, students reflect on art publicly, using vocabulary and critical thinking skills to explore art concepts.
The ability to analyze and give feedback is a life skill that reaches beyond the art classroom. This vocabulary building is integrated into every unity of study. Additionally, Jason provides second language learners and students with special needs opportunities to develop language skills and vocabulary in context.
Jason is NOT a “cookie-cutter” teacher. He teaches a concept, then supports learning by asking probing question, by leading students to resources and letting them discover and problem solve on their own.
Congratulations to Spangler Elementary’s Jason Gage!
Brad Martin, Lyons Middle / Senior High School, is a teacher who promotes creativity and implements differential instruction in order to reach every student. Whether the students’ needs are that of a challenged, gifted or anywhere in-between learner, - Brad pushes each student to the best of his or her ability.
A teacher’s high energy is contagious. In a class of 30 middle schoolers, Brad’s positive and focused energy is especially important. This energy radiates throughout the classroom, becomes contagious in a focused way, and makes a strong impression that contributes to the pace of learning.
As a MESA advisor, this teacher excels in collaborating with campus colleagues, businesses, college science departments and parents to provide a highly popular, successful and award winning MESA program.
Congratulations to Lyons Middle School’s Brad Martin!
Steve McNichols, Silver Creek High School doesn’t just teach social studies, - this teacher lives it - and provides multiple interactive learning experiences to help students live it, too. Here are a few examples of how this teacher provides a diverse, interactive, and challenging learning environment for students.
- Conducts mock trench warfare simulations with sound, lighting and paper tossed about a darkened room, teens become fully engaged in active learning while required to complete assigned tasks and journal the life of a soldier.
- Leads a costumed mystery game of who shot Teddy Roosevelt highlights pivotal events and figures of the Progressive era
- Runs an Immigration simulation that explores the process of entering the U.S. through Ellis Island
- Conducts a Nigeria Tribal simulation
- And leads a “We the People” competition.
As interactive as these projects may be, - Steve’s classes are no walk in the park. The courses are full of rigorous materials and a substantial amount of reading. They also require essays, book reports, and think pieces, all of which specifically focus on different writing styles that can later be used in a college portfolio.
Congratulations to Silver Creek High’s Steve McNichols!
Sheila Romero-Bisgard, Carbon Valley Charter Academy, is passionate about each individual’s heritage and exploring the world within the classroom.
By developing a project called “cultural clone”, Sheila helps students learn about their heritage. Her students are asked to prepare a poster that shows different activities, beliefs and traditions that their own family practices. Cultural clone has provided students a celebratory way to discover their own heritage and learn to respect and appreciate the diversity of others.
Sheila uses a travel adventure to foreign lands within the classroom to embrace other cultures and add life skills to her students’ education. The “flight to China” project included using real
airline tickets, boarding an airplane, being seated by a flight attendant, watching an “in flight” movie about China, and tasting a wide variety of Asian foods.
Sheila also created an immigration project where the class “docks on Ellis Island” and each student is thoroughly questioned about their names and birth countries. This project was enhanced by the creation of different stations set up in the classroom showing how the immigrants were tested for health, asked about personal goods brought into the country, and questioned about skills in the event that they would qualify for work, if available.
In a variety of ways, Sheila helps students navigate their own environment, respect other environments and teaches them to have self-control and a sense of accomplishment.
Congratulations to Carbon Valley Academy’s Sheila Romero-Bisgard!
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