ARLINGTON, Va.—May 2, 2012—The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning, has announced the recipients of its 2012 Teacher Awards Program, which honors K–12 teachers, professors, principals, and other educators for their outstanding achievement and innovative programs in science education.
Dr. John Penick, former NSTA president and professor emeritus at North Carolina State University (NCSU) in Raleigh, North Carolina, was awarded the NSTA Distinguished Service to Science Education Award. This award, which is partially sponsored by ServiceMaster, honors NSTA members who, through active leadership and scholarly endeavor over a significant period of time, have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of education in the sciences and science teaching. Penick received his in March at a special banquet and ceremony at NSTA’s 60th National Conference on Science Education in Indianapolis.
Penick began his teaching career as a biology and chemistry teacher in an inner city high school in Miami, Florida, where he also served as science department chair. A graduate of the University of Miami and Florida State University, after nearly 30 years as a post-secondary educator at Miami-Dade Junior College, Loyola University, and The University of Iowa, he joined the NCSU faculty in 1998. In 2009, Penick retired from NCSU.
Penick has been an active member of NSTA, serving on the NSTA board and council and on many committees. He is a two-time recipient of the Gustav Ohaus Award for Innovations in College Science Teaching from NSTA, and has delivered numerous presentations and sessions at NSTA conventions. He also has held numerous other leadership positions, including president of the Association for Science Teacher Education (ASTE) and president of the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT).
Well known throughout the international education community, Penick is the recipient of more than $6 million in external funding for education projects. He has been invited and supported to work in 35 countries on projects that included teaching university faculty in Indonesia, evaluating teacher workshops in Portugal, designing a science education center in Venezuela, and translating elementary science curriculum from Portuguese to English, to name but a few. He has also presented at conferences and workshops, and conducted research at locations around the world. He also served as the North American representative to the International Council of Associations for Science Education (ICASE) and was been a member of its executive committee from 1985 to 2009.
He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the ASTE Outstanding Science Educator of the Year and Outstanding Mentor awards and the Florida State University Distinguished Educator Award as well as the Orthogonal Medal from NCSU and a Distinguished Service Citation from Epsilon Pi Tau, the international honorary for professions in technology. He has authored or co-authored more than 240 books, monographs, and articles and has given hundreds of presentations to schools and professional association.
“NSTA awardees represent the best and brightest in science education,” said Patricia Simmons, president, NSTA. “We congratulate Dr. Penick for his lifelong commitment to science education and for his innovative and creative approach to teaching our students science.”
Penick received a formal citation, three nights’ hotel accommodation and $500 toward expenses to attend the NSTA National Conference on Science Education.
NSTA encourages science educators to apply for its 2013 Teacher Awards. Applications and information can be found online at http://www.nsta.org/about/awards.aspx.
About NSTA
The Arlington, VA-based National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), www.nsta.org, is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA’s current membership includes approximately 60,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in science education.
Contact
Kate Falk
National Science Teachers Association
(703) 312-9211
kfalk@nsta.org