MANCHESTER – The New Hampshire Science Teachers’ Association has named Baron Richardson of Hillside Middle School its 2022-2023 Experienced Science Educator award winner.
Richardson has 35 years of teaching experience between the high school and middle school levels, and he currently teaches 7th Grade earth science at Hillside. Richardson was presented with the award earlier this month and was recognized at the May 22 Board of School Committee meeting.
“I was delighted and pleasantly surprised to receive this award,” Richardson said. “It is a great honor to be recognized by my students, their parents, and my colleagues for my efforts. I carry this with me as I strive to foster curiosity and engage my students in meaningful lessons, and enriching experiences.”
The Experienced Science Educator in New Hampshire Award is presented annually by the NHSTA Board of Directors to recognize a science teacher who models dedication and commitment to exemplary teaching in the field of science education. Board of School Committee member Julie Turner nominated Richardson for the award and presented it to him on May 4. Turner noted that her family has first-hand experience with Richardson – her son and daughter count him as their favorite teacher – but she also hears praise of him from other families and students.
“Mr. Richardson demonstrates enthusiasm, knowledge and passion through his ability to make science more accessible to his students,” Turner wrote in her nomination, noting that beyond a lesson on earthquakes and seismology, Richardson brought the lesson out of the classroom – all the way to the engineering school at UNH. “The students brought with them their seismic safe spaghetti skyscrapers that they designed and built in class, to test them on the shake table in the structural engineering lab. This is just one example of how Mr. Richardson is able to provide extended learning opportunities like these to his students.”
The Experienced Science Educator award is given to a veteran educator who has taught for more than 5 years and who meets the following criteria:
Demonstrates enthusiasm, knowledge and passion through leadership within the classroom, school, district, and/or state.
Demonstrates thinking and reasoning abilities that use models to make science meaningful to students.
Applies knowledge of standards- and researched-based instructional and assessment strategies in his/her classroom with a true commitment that all children can learn science.
Offers collegiality to fellow science educators through sharing of information, serving as a mentor, offering professional development support, engaging in professional learning communities, serving on school, district or state professional groups, or through other opportunities to enhance the culture and climate of an educational community.
Is involved with the science educational community through membership and participation in district, regional, state, or national science organizations. Their involvement has led to significant impact on the science education of students, fellow teachers, administration, parents, or other community members.
You can read the full award message from the New Hampshire Science Teachers’ Association here.
We hope you’ll join us in congratulating Mr. Richardson on this outstanding recognition.