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2003 Science Teacher
Program Receives an “A+” from Teachers
ATOFINA’s Science
Teacher Program has wrapped up its 2003 schedule, and the teachers
graded it an “A+.”
This summer, approximately 120 teachers attended the ATOFINA Science
Teacher Program at one of the 14 locations where the Company has
operations. They join more than 300 teachers who have participated
in the past – many of whom indicate they want to come back!
Teachers’ evaluations have averaged over 9.5 (on a 10-point
scale) and the comments the teachers have written indicate the enthusiasm
with which the program has been received:
| “It
was wonderful. I wouldn’t change a thing. Best teacher
development I’ve ever been to. Most enjoyable, most
applicable to my classroom.”
–
Houston teacher |
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“Our
mentors were extremely intelligent, helpful and kind to
us. A pleasure to work with.”
–
Calvert City teacher |
| “[Our
mentor] was very encouraging and helpful.”
“[Our mentor] was extremely personable; working with
us as we solved problems.”
“[Our mentor] was awesome. He guided and directed
us with the investigations in our kit.”
– Memphis teachers |
These comments show just
how much the Science Teacher Program, and the time and energy the
mentors and program directors at each site put into it, means to
the schools near ATOFINA's facilities.
Some of the highlights from the 2003 programs:
- The Carrollton, Kentucky, facility invited teachers from the
Madison, Indiana, area this year. It’s the first time teachers
from Indiana (across the Ohio River from the plant) participated.
- At the Memphis, Tennessee, facility, not only did the principals
attend the demonstrations of the kits, Gloria Bolton, the K-5
Science Coordinator for Shelby County School Board, also attended
to show the area’s commitment to science education.
- In Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, teachers are not only spurring
their students to learn more about science, they also encourage
their students to become science teachers! Diana Beckmann, who
teaches at St. Isidore School in Litomysl, MN, was pleasantly
surprised to see her former grade school teacher Peggy Talamantes,
a Grade 5 teacher in Ellendale, MN, also participating in the
Science Teacher Program.
- The Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, facility took a day to visit the
Pennsylvania state capitol in Harrisburg where, if his schedule
permits, they may have an opportunity to meet with Governor Rendell.
Below are a few photos
from various ATOFINA locations to give you an idea of what goes
on during the Science Teacher Program.
Houston-area
teachers learn how crayfish live and interact during the
program, held jointly by ATOFINA’s Crosby and Houston
sites and Sartomer’s Channelview site the
week of July 14.
|
Mobile area
teachers Rachel Broadhead (l.) and Cindy Smith (r.) learn
about chemical reactions, assisted by Joe Merz - ATOFINA
mentor.
|
| 
Calvert
City elementary teacher Michele Stevenson demonstrates the
"floating" effect of hot water when placed in
room temperature water. |
(l.-r.)
Principals Karlyn Lamb (Deputy, IN Elem.) and Bonnie Northcutt
(Cartmell, KY Elem.) identify different foods through chemical
analysis with the assistance of Peggy Carter, Carrollton
Science Teacher Program Director. |
| 
Benton
Elementary teacher Kimberly Anderson performs an experiment
to "layer" water of different temperatures during
Calvert City's Science Teacher Program. |
Stephanie
Blanton (l.) and Fionna Martin, teachers at Kennedy Montessori
School in Louisville, review the contents of the Magnetism
and Electricity kit. |
| 
(l.-r.)
Angela Danielson and Diana Beckmann, teachers at St. Isidore
School in Owatonna, MN, see first-hand how a chemical reaction
results
in a temperature change
and
the generation of gas in an experiment conducted at the
Blooming
Prairie facility. |
What
salt concentration is best for brine shrimp? Donna Lumpkin,
who teaches at Groves Middle School in the Beaumont area,
uses a magnifying glass to estimate how brine shrimp thrive
in varying concentrations of salt water. |
| 
(l.-r.)Henderson
Elementary School teachers Cyrelle Mello and Nancy Darling-Crall
and ATOFINA mentor Tim Shepherd learn about fermentation at
the Bryan facility
by
preparing kim chee, a Korean delicacy made with cabbage, peppers,
and salt. The experiment, included with the Ecosystems science
kit, illustrates how scientific principles can be used in
other fields of study.
|
Maryann
Matteo, teacher at the St. Paul School in Norristown, PA,
takes hands-on science to a whole new level by experimenting
with plants. |
|
(l.-r.)
Charlene Jablow and
Corinne
Lynch, teachers from
Vare
Elementary School in Philadelphia, PA, construct a
habitat
fit for crabs, frogs and
snails.
Teachers will take their
new
found enthusiasm for
science
back to the classroom
and
spark the imaginations of
their
students. |
Philadelphia
elementary school teacher Monica McCasland
(Bryant
School – Philadelphia,
PA)
sets up a miniature
ecosystem
so that her students
may
study the life cycles of
snails,
guppies and crickets. ATOFINA hosted its 8th annual Science
Teacher Program at
the
Research Center in early
August.
The program was also
held
at 14 ATOFINA locations
this
summer, hosting a total of
90
teachers. |
Thanks to everyone who
has helped make the program such a success! Learn more about the
Science
Teacher Program.
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