Southern Colorado Teacher Wins National Science Award

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A teacher from Center High School in rural Southern Colorado has been awarded a prestigious National teaching award for science and technology. KRCC’s Hannah Sohl reports.

Science teacher Daniel Newmeyer says he’s taught high school for less than 10 years, but he’s developed programs that include conducting high-level scientific research and integrating aerospace science and math in the classroom. That’s partly why he’s won the Alan Shepard Technology in Education award. Janet Stevens is with the Space Foundation, one of the award’s administrators.

"He’s really thinking about the future of the children that he teaches and he’s trying to open doors so that they can make choices about what they do when they grow up. That they are not in any way restricted by their economic situation or their geographic location."

The rural school district has a 90% poverty rate. Of the school’s only 150 students, nearly 50 are participating in the elective research class this year. The national award is also administered by NASA and the Astronauts Memorial Foundation.