The Presidential Award is the nation's highest honor for teachers of mathematics and science (including computer science). Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science education. The following teachers have been selected as national and state finalists.

Oregon Department of Education Science Specialist and State PAEMST Coordinator, Jamie Rumage presented awards to Oregon's Finalists.

2016 National Finalist

Sharon Angal

Quatama Elementary, Hillsboro, Oregon

Sharon Angal has been an educator for the last 26 years. She currently teaches mathematics and science to third graders at Quatama Elementary School where she has taught since 2008. As the Teacher on Special Assignment, she serves as a science support for fellow teachers. 

Sharon likes her students to learn about real world problems in science, as well as see potential career opportunities that are associated with the science industry. Sharon uses place-based phenomena to make learning meaningful and relevant. She encourages hands-on activities and integrates multiple content areas to provide challenging, fun lessons. She is most proud of her partnership with the Oregon Zoo. This partnership has provided positive experiences for many of the students at Quatama Elementary. 

Sharon received the Crystal Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching from her school district in 2016. She has been awarded grants for innovative technology and science. Sharon has presented professional development at the local, state, and national levels. She co-authored an article in Science and Children, a National Science Teachers Association journal. 

Sharon earned a B.S. in elementary education from the University of Western Oregon. She has completed endorsements for English Speakers of Other Languages and Reading, and received a certificate for Instructor of Science Teaching K-6.

With 38 years of experience in the field of education, Carol Biskupic Knight has an in-depth and integral understanding of the needs of classroom students and teachers through 28 years as a classroom teacher of 1st-7th grades. Her knowledge and experience in curriculum and instruction as a district science specialist, Science Partnership Teacher on Special Assignment, Elementary Science Curriculum Specialist and STEAM Coordinator brings a love and foundational understanding of effective science teaching, especially at the elementary level. Carol was part of the national and state level Next Generation Science Standards review and implementation teams and has developed professional development coursework, workshops and trainings for classroom teachers and informal educators on understanding and aligning instruction to the NGSS standards. With teaching certification in special education and talented and gifted, along with a focused study on English Language Learners, Carol has a strong passion to incorporate the NGSS Equity and Diversity lens into her work with teachers so that all elementary students have effective science instruction.  Her current position as STEAM coordinator at Sato Elementary School in Beaverton allows her to work with both teachers and students using the wonder of science and STEAM to engage students in a meaningful pursuit of knowledge and provide the impetus needed to promote literacy and language that is such a key focus at the elementary level.

2018 OSTA Outstanding Teaching Awardees

This award is named in honor of Fred Fox, a distinguished and well-loved teacher educator from Oregon State university (1957-82). The award is intended to honor those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to mentoring and developing new teachers. It is intended for nominees involved in teacher training programs at the college level, ESD, district administrators or other administrative positions. The awardee is selected based on career longevity, breadth of influence, enthusiasm for science and the profession of science education, and the demonstrated ability to motivate.

Linda Hilligoss, Southern Oregon University, Ashland, OR

After 20 years in the classroom, including teaching at Ashland Middle School, Linda joined the staff at Southern Oregon University in 1985. Working in the School of Education and the Environmental Education department, Linda’s classes include STEM Methods and Environmental Education. Her students lead the Fall in the Field program, field trips for K-12 students in Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. They also assist with the August Institute, a teacher workshop sponsored by SOREEL (Southern Oregon Regional Environmental Education Leaders). Linda’s passion is place-based education and teacher professional development to help educators use the outdoors as an engaging learning laboratory.

The Sunrise Scholarship Award was established by long-time OSTA Board Member, Lynn Mitchell.  Lynn was a science teacher at Hood River High school, and spent many years on the OSTA board in a number of capacities.  His vision for this scholarship was to support early career teachers to get involved with their professional organization, take advantage of the resources available through being a member, and setting the stage for the next generation of science leaders in OSTA. The Sunrise Scholarship is used to pay registration to attend the next two (2) OSTA Statewide Conferences, and a 2-year membership in OSTA.

Chris Martin, Silverton High School, Silverton

Chris is a very energetic teacher.  He knows his subject very well, he illustrates great rapport with his students and pushes them to learn via interactive learning techniques and focused lab activities.  The best part is he makes kids think by doing a number of varied "minds-on" processes - for instance; two truths and a lie that really engages their minds - which he uses either as an introduction for the day, or a closing.  He is very charismatic and will be a great lead teacher as his career evolves!

The Thor Sabo Special Service to the Oregon Science Teachers Association Award

This award is named in honor of Thor Sabo, a teacher at Hillsboro High School for many years who also served OSTA as President, Executive Director, and who was responsible for helping organize many annual conferences.  This award will be given to an individual who has made significant and long-term contributions of time and effort to supporting the mission of OSTA and to facilitate excellence and continuous improvement in science education.

Carolyn Clontz, Bend, OR

Carolyn has been actively involved in OSTA since 1997 when she was recruited to participate in a MSP Science Mentoring Program that was followed by an OSTA Summer Science Leadership Program.  She has served as a Regional Director, President, Comptroller (prior to OSTA’s Treasurer), and has worked on numerous conferences. After she retired from OSTA in 2012, she was recruited back into service when the organization underwent some major changes in governance in 2013 and filled in as the interim comptroller until the new bylaws created the elected position of Treasurer. And, if that wasn’t enough, she ran and was elected to the new Membership Coordinator in 2014.  Carolyn has served OSTA by providing back end support for membership and events, while providing valuable institutional history that has helped newer board members understand the organizational thinking for past initiatives and activities in order to move forward with the 2016 Strategic Goals.

Regional Awards

These awards are meant to recognize and honor the work of outstanding classroom teachers in the categories of Early Career, Elementary, Middle, and High School.  From every region in Oregon, awardees are selected based on their ability to motivate student achievement and excitement in science.

Region 1: Multnomah, Clackamas, Columbia, & Clatsop Counties

Andrea Leech, Benson Polytechnic High School, Portland, OR

Andrea has worked diligently over the past several years to transform her practice to support a student centered classroom. She has been honing her skills of facilitating student discourse so that she can scaffold student labs and activities in a way that allows them to utilize the practices to discover why chemistry is relevant to their lives. She has also started to lead other teachers in Portland Public Schools in this journey and advocate for district level supports that will ensure teachers are successful in this transition to implementing the Next Generation Science Standards.

Charlotte Denis, Mountainside High School, Beaverton, OR

Charlotte is an incredible educator and leader for our district and state.  She has helped develop and provide professional development on our district/regional biology curriculum, been a tireless advocate for underserved students, and collaborated with other leaders to help move science education in Oregon forward. Charlotte has great skill in both her classroom and as an instructional leader. One of her specific strengths is in her support of curricular and instructional work to support ELL students. She is also very engaged in the work of NGSS implementation, always asking the question of how she can have students engaging in authentic inquiry and engineering tasks.  She has developed multiple engineering projects as well as investigations that she shares with biology teachers across the state.

Region 2: Tillamook, Yamhill, Polk, Marion, Linn, Benton & Lincoln Counties

Tyler Lindsey, Dayton Junior High School, Dayton, OR

Tyler is a phenomenal science teacher with a genuine heart for students.  He has taught both of my sons and is an expert at differentiating instruction for students.  Tyler has brought a strong STEM-focused mindset to a rural school district that definitely needed to increase the rigor and relevance in its Science education.  Tyler has also attended Sheltered Instruction trainings and has a sincere desire to improve his methodology to reach every student and help them become successful academically.  His nominator, Jeffrey Crapper, said, "Having a son that has both an ELL and SPED designation, I am incredibly grateful for Tyler and everything he did to make sure my son succeeded in his class."

Alison Stolfus, Silverton High School, Silverton, OR

Alison is an outstanding teacher.  She tirelessly works with students of varied backgrounds and makes them enjoy science!  She does a super job of maintaining positive discipline in her classroom while still making thing fun for her students.  She has developed the Environmental Biology program into a year long class and excels at field work. Plus, since 4 of the old guard retired, she has taken the torch and is leading the way for the science department.

Kelly Shipley, McMinnville High School, McMinnville, OR

Kelly Shipley goes above and beyond every day for her students.  As a phenomenal science teacher she is constantly striving to provide engaging, relevant and enriching experiences to her students through the lens of inquiry and design.  Beyond her Biology and Physics teaching load she has also built a program in which she creates equitable experiences for our students with learning disabilities in her Accelerated Science course (the accelerated department is our joint SPED/EL department).  Through this course she teaches some of our historically underserved populations the wonders of Biology, Physical Science and Environmental Science. The strong relationships that she establishes with her students allows them to place trust in her that she will guide and support them through their challenges.  I have seen her Accelerated students outperform their on-level peers on several occasions and I know that a lot of that credit goes to how hard and determined Kelly is to provide her students with the most positive, enriched and well planned lessons she can everyday!

Carrie Carden, Dayton High School, Dayton, OR

Carrie has brought a sense of rigor and passion for Science education that I have not seen in Dayton High School during the past ten years I have lived in the school district.  She inherently knows the needs of her students and is a master of differentiating instruction to make sure they are successful. My son, who has both ELL and SPED designations, thoroughly loved her class and was successful due to her sheltered instruction techniques that she has implemented into her lessons.  Carrie does an amazing job chunking her lessons and assignments, without compromising the academic integrity of the lessons. She is definitely an accomplished Science educator and deserves this honor.

Region 3: Lane, Douglas, Coos, & Curry County

Allison Kreider, Howard Elementary, Eugene, OR

Allison Kreider has been Eugene School District 4j's Elementary Science TOSA for the past two years through a curriculum adoption. She has been instrumental in leading our elementary science teachers through navigating NGSS, how to use the new curriculum and the importance of elementary students "doing" science. She organized many "phenomenal" trainings, not only with FOSS, but with district science teacher leaders, as well. She went out to schools and worked directly with teachers and modeled science teaching in classrooms. Her passion and enthusiasm cracked even the toughest nuts when it came to the many excuses of why there was not time to teach science. She was an integral part of our 4j  science team contributing to 4j's K-12 science storyline. Her innovation, dedication and moxie have made a huge difference in our district in regards to science teaching and learning of our elementary schools.

McKenzie Perry, Siuslaw Middle School, Florence, OR

McKenzie Perry is the perfect advocate for the power of the Siuslaw Stream Team: once a student, now spearheading the incredible project-based, local ecology program in her own classroom. When Mrs. Perry was a middle schooler herself, she participated with enthusiasm and wonder as her teacher led her out of the classroom and into nature, where real scientific learning comes alive. Not only did this inspire her as a young person, it led her on to her career path, and today she passionately leads her own 6th grade science students in hands-on inquiry-based lessons out in the field collecting water samples, studying fish and macro-invertebrates, and discovering how stewardship of local ecosystems leads to better health for their homes and communities. Just as she did, her students constantly speak to how much they gain from Stream Team, and how inspired they are to continue to protect the amazing ecosystems around their coastal home. As she uses strong community partnerships with governmental and non-governmental agencies, innovative and creative NGSS-aligned curriculum, and her own personal testimony to drive the team, McKenzie Perry deserves to be honored as a truly outstanding science educator.

Jennifer Hampel, North Bend High School, North Bend, OR

Of all the courses offered in our five-person Science Department, Jennifer teaches half. She led the charge to implement Patterns-based Biology and is polishing it this year. She took Coastal Ecology, formerly a goof-off elective course with a scattered curriculum, and made it a vehicle to expose students to the fields of forestry, wildlife management, and fisheries biology. She volunteered to bring the Healthcare Careers Pathway to our school, although it meant getting a CTE license and taking additional coursework to become a Red Cross Certified First Aid Instructor. Splitting her time with the Health PLC, she took the community college curriculum for Healthcare Careers, Medical Terminology, Medical Ethics, and Body Structures and Functions and adapted it for our high school. In addition to teaching 5-6 different courses per year, Jennifer is the co-advisor for Science National Honor Society, has served as a Science Bowl coach, and is planning to add an after-school science club and a Salmon Bowl team to our high school this year. In addition, she is raising two high school age children and helping her husband run their small business. I’m honestly not sure if she sleeps. Jennifer deserves recognition for all her hard work.

Jen is a hard-working and dedicated powerhouse.  In the 4 short years she has been in our district, she has revitalized our science electives, especially Coastal Ecology, and she has transformed our Anatomy and Physiology course into a dual-credit Body Structures and Functions class that is the centerpiece of a Healthcare Career Pathway.  As our department has focused heavily on improving our core curriculum, Jen has taken on more than her fair share of preps for the good of the department. She has sometimes taught 5 different courses per term just because that was the only way those courses could be offered in our small school.  In addition to all of that responsibility and hard work, Jen has written grants for supplies, attended professional development, and maintained a calm and cheerful demeanor that colleagues and students adore.

Region 4: Josephine, Jackson, Klamath & Lake Counties

Kacy Carlson, Central Medford High School, Medford, OR

Kacy teaches at an alternative high school in the Medford School District. Many of his students face personal and academic challenges that make traditional classroom experiences unsuccessful for them. As he begins his fifth year of teaching, Kacy continues to bring excitement and a fresh perspective to his students' science experiences. Besides teaching integrated science, Kacy worked collaboratively to create a new wilderness culinary class. Kacy also offers outdoor education classes to his high school students, offering the opportunity for his students to earn college credit in backcountry skiing, wilderness first aid and avalanche rescue. (https://www.southernoregonmagazine.com/outdoor-adventure-leadership-southern-oregon-university) Kacy serves on Mt. Ashland ski patrol and plays ice hockey.

Region 5: Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler, Marrow Umatilla & Grant Counties

Please consider nominating outstanding teachers for the 2019 awards.

Region 6: Jefferson, Cook, Deschutes, & Harney Counties

Stephanie Morrison, High Desert Middle School, Bend, OR

Stephanie is constantly in search of best practice for her students and tirelessly experiments with those practices.  Her classroom is a model for productive discourse as students make sense of complex phenomena by modeling and revising their models.  Perhaps what is most impressive is that Stephanie has followed the these trends that have emerged from NGSS and has been out in front of her own accord, well ahead of others in the region. She worked with a math teacher to create a longitudinal field study project in which her students travel to a stream restoration site to collect and analyze data and then compare that to an "experimental forest" adjacent to her school.  She is a leader in the school, district, and region and a constant partner with OSU as she mentors science teacher candidates each year.

Amy Mitchell, Redmond Proficiency Academy, Redmond, OR

Amy Mitchell is a phenomenal science teacher at Redmond Proficiency Academy. She primarily teaches 9th grade biology where she emphasizes scientific inquiry and applications that build student curiosity and foster scientific engagement. Amy incorporates current scientific events throughout her classes, keeping the content relevant and captivating her students with the fascinating world of science.

Amy also teaches several elective science classes including, STEAM Project: Tiny House Design. Students in this class build proportional models of tiny houses that meet construction, environmental and aesthetic criteria. In the process, they learn engineering procedures and green building fundamentals.

Amy is also the primary coordinator of RPA’s Sustainability Fair, a school and community wide event held annually at RPA to inspire increased sustainability. Students from 6th-12th grade complete sustainability themed projects and community businesses with sustainable practices or products participate by setting up educational exhibits. RPA school  and community members from Jefferson, Deschutes and Crook counties are invited. It is an inspiring event to be a part of and Amy is really the catalyzing force behind it!

Amy is a wonderful teacher who has been an inspiration to my own teaching practices many times over. I hope you will consider her for this award.

Region 7: Wallowa, Union, Baker & Malheur Counties