Butler Jr. High's Andrews gets teaching award
A Butler Junior High School teacher recently received a Presidential Award for his innovative teaching methods.
Dave Andrews, a general science, environmental science and chemistry teacher at the junior high, was among 17 teachers nationwide to receive the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators.
He was honored for this distinction at the White House this month.
He received particular praise for his Trout in the Classroom program, in which his students are given the opportunity to raise brook trout and then release the fish into nearby streams to boost the local fish population.
Andrews and the 16 other teachers were honored on Aug. 12.
“It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Andrews said. “The day included the awards ceremony in the morning in one of the White House briefing rooms, a luncheon including a brainstorming session with students, teachers, and EPA (and) White House staff on the future of environmental education, and concluded with a tour of the Capitol building.”
As a teacher, Andrews also oversees tree plantings, litter cleanups and facilitating opportunities for students to work with professional biologists.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, his work with local waterways encourages students to give back to their local communities and fosters a sense of environmental stewardship.
But Andrews’ favorite part of the day was getting to meet teachers from California to Guam.
“One of the best parts of the day was being able to sit down and talk with teachers from all over the country about the various projects everyone is doing,” he said. “There are truly some amazing things being done in classrooms all around the country.”
Some of the other teachers were recognized for giving students the opportunity to raise salmon, develop their own renewable fuels, and create sustainable farming methods in the classroom.
Andrews received a commemorative plaque and a $2,000 award to be used to further develop environmental classroom curriculum. An additional $2,000 will be given to Butler School District to fund environmental educational initiatives.
