North High Science Teachers Receive Emerson Grant
Two teachers from the Parkway North Science department, Russ Barton and Lorrie Crosset, received a $15,000 ‘Emerson Excellence in Teaching Gold Star Grant’ during a surprise presentation on May 8, 2012.
Each year, The Emerson Company donates money to high schools through its Gold Star Grant Program, which is open to current and recent Excellence in Teaching award recipients. Barton received this award during the fall semester of the 2011-2012 school year.
With the money, Barton and Crosset plan to install a greenhouse with vegetable and herb beds that can be used by students as well as the community, and purchase thermal imaging cameras on the North High campus beginning the 2012-2013 school year.
“This grant will provide a huge amount of educational opportunities to students here [at North],” said junior J.J. Kim.
Barton and Crosset were notified that they had been chosen to receive the grant during a surprise presentation with Emerson executives in Barton’s classroom during his 7th block class on May 8.
“It was a really nice ceremony,” said junior Justin Johnson, a photographer for the yearbook who was taking pictures of the event. “The teachers were really surprised… They deserve it.”
Barton worked with Crosset to develop and send in a formal application including a plan for what they would do with the money if chosen.
“[This greenhouse] will really promote outdoor education that is not as easily available,” said junior Celina Yim.
The Parkway district has discussed allotting some of the budget towards initiatives such as this throughout the past years, but never has found the right amount of funds to carry through with the ideas.
“We’ve been talking for 5 or 6 six years about wanting a greenhouse, but there’s just wasn’t enough money to find a good greenhouse,” said Barton.
The purchases made as a result of this grant will have a large impact on the curriculum offered in courses like Biology at North, and will offer science students more hands-on learning opportunities.
“Ideally, we might be able to design a class around [the greenhouse]. And it can go along with classes already offered. It’s got a huge amount of applications,” Barton said.
Written by Kevin Graeler