Middle School science teacher wins fellowship for innovation

Eighth grade science teacher Peter Thomas was recently awarded the Murdock-Thompson Center for Teachers` 2007 Summer Fellowship for Innovative Teachers. It was only one of two awards that the center gave out in the national fellowship competition. \"Having worked with Peter for the past six years as his divisional principal, I can state with certainty that he defines what it means to be an innovative, enthusiastic and devoted teacher for our Middle School students at Hawken,\" said Middle School Director Bill Waskowitz. As part of the competition, Thomas sent a proposal that detailed a plan to study watersheds in an interdisciplinary way, involving not only science, but also math, language arts, history, etc. His class already spends a day early in the school year testing area watersheds and even collaborates with a Middle School math teacher, but Thomas wanted to look at the topic from a global standpoint. \"For me, what is most appealing about Peter`s proposal is the fact that he seeks ways to allow all students to +óGé¼-£see` themselves as scientists,\" Waskowitz said. This summer, Thomas and Hawken`s team of eighth grade teachers will begin to brainstorm how to implement the coursework next year. He will also help out and participate in a weeklong Cuyahoga Community College initiative that will explore the Euclid Creek watersheds. Thomas hopes that students will learn that school subjects are a lot more connected than they seem. And because he believes the issue of water quality is an issue that affects not only the United States, but also the world, he hopes that students will begin to formulate ways about how they can make a difference in the global community when it comes to issues that affect them as both American citizens and world citizens.