Archive: Around Town

At the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) Convocation for all staff members on Tuesday, September 4, Jennifer Wilkie was honored with the Raymond C. Loehr Innovative Science Teaching Award.  Presenting the award that is managed by the Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) was Ann Caren, IPEI board member and Awards Committee Chair.

Caren announced the 2012 recipient of the award that was initiated by Loehr’s family in honor of his career as a science educator at the time of his 70th birthday. It has been presented to eight different teachers from ICSD’s elementary and secondary schools. A second award in his honor is presented each June to a student who excels in environmental science.

Wilkie who teaches fourth grade at South Hill Elementary School “collaborates with colleagues throughout the district and the community. Students not only learn the curriculum, they experience it,” said Caren. She was nominated by South Hill Principal Colleen Ledley who expressed, “Although Jen teaches every subject with enthusiasm and creativity, her love for science is a true passion.  She channels this love into the community and develops local partnerships that make the curriculum come alive for students.” 

When accepting the award, Wilkie thanked all of the community partners who make it possible for she and other educators to enrich their students’ experiences. Examples of her community connections include: collaborating with “Trout Unlimited” and the Cayuga Lake Floating Classroom, using a grant from the Fine Arts Booster Group to bring watercolor artist Camille Doucet to help students integrate writing and art with science, and participating in a service-learning project with Ithaca College’s Environmental Health Class and the Cayuga Nature Center.  Wilkie has taught South Hill fourth grade for seven years.

v8i35