Michelle Brand Buchanan, a teacher at Pineville Junior High in Pineville, Louisiana has been named the first recipient of the Edward C. Roy, Jr. Award for Excellence in K-8 Earth Science Teaching.
Ms. Buchanan received her Bachelor of Science from the University of North Texas. She has completed postgraduate science and education courses at four additional institutions and is currently a National Board Certified teacher of 7th grade life and environmental science and 8th grade earth, space, and environmental science.
Ms. Buchanan is involved in several organizations that promote science education. She’s a member of the Louisiana Science Teachers Association, the National Science Teachers Association, and is active in the Antarctic Geologic Drilling Program.
Columbus Goodman, Principal of Pineville Junior High says that Ms. Buchanan has a “loyalty and willingness to support new and innovative educational programs in the science field.” She is thorough in personally designing lesson plans that involve multiple hands-on activities that engage the students in learning.
In addition to the Edward C. Roy, Jr. Award, she has received several other accolades, including the 2007 National Association of Geoscience Teachers Outstanding Earth Science Teacher of the Year Award for Louisiana, the U.S. Department of Education’s Star Teaching Award, and the 2005 Sam’s Club Regional Teacher of the Year Award.
Given annually, the Edward C. Roy, Jr. Award recognizes one classroom teacher from kindergarten to eighth grade for his or her leadership and innovation in earth science education. This award is named in honor of Dr. Edward C. Roy, Jr., who was a strong and dedicated supporter of earth science education. He served as Past President of AGI, chaired the AGI Education Advisory Committee, and received both the Ian Campbell Medal and the Heroy Distinguished Service award. In addition, he served as the Gertrude and Walter Pyron Distinguished Professor of Geology at Trinity University, as Dean of the Division of Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering, and as Vice President for Academic Affairs. Roy was also appointed Chair of the Texas Earth Science Task Force by the Commissioner of the Texas Education Agency.
Ms. Buchanan will be presented with the Edward C. Roy, Jr. Award at the AGI Past Presidents Dinner, Sunday April 20th 2008 in San Antonio, Texas.
The American Geological Institute is a nonprofit federation of 44 geoscientific and professional associations that represents more than 120,000 geologists, geophysicists and other earth scientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests in the profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in society's use of resources, resiliency to natural hazards, and interaction with the environment.