The New Mexico Academy of Science on November 14 at the New Mexico
Museum of Natural History and Science in Albuquerque presented the Outstanding
Secondary Science Teacher Award to Mr. Rondal Nauert of Tatum High School.
Nauert is in his 39th year of teaching, the last seven in Tatum where he is a Physical Science, Chemistry, and Physics teacher in grades 8 through 12. Prior to working in New Mexico, Nauert taught in Texas. Not only does he teach all honors science classes in Tatum, he also has one special education class.
Rondal Nauert has begun a Secondary Science Fair for secondary students. Mr. Nauert in April 1998 teamed with Fort Sumner and Corona students along with students from Tatum to work on the Waste Dedication Research Consortium, sponsored by New Mexico State University. They won an all expense paid trip to Chicago to make their presentation to the National WERC Association. Three students from Tatum received engineering scholarships to NMSU.
T. J. Parks, Superintendent of Tatum Schools, said "The Science Department
at Tatum High School has truly been blessed by having a person of Rondal's
expertise and enthusiasm. I have been in education for a mere eighteen
years and I have never met a person who cares as much for students and
has the ability to make a subject meaningful to them. Rondal is not only
an excellent teacher, but he is a very special person."
The New Mexico Academy of Science on November 14 at the New Mexico
Museum of Natural History and Science in Albuquerque presented the Outstanding
Elementary Science Teacher Award to Mrs. Cathy Kinzer of Mesilla Park School
of Las Cruces.
Cathy teaches mathematics methods at New MExico State University in the mornings and mathematics and science at Mesilla Park School in the afternoons.
Mrs.Kinzer provides hands-on activities for her third grade classes since 1993. She not ony utilizes the science materials available theough the school system, but purchases additional material, which provide extra hands-on projects for the students - - FOSS kits.
Mrs. Kinzer is also a math consultant for TERC, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving mathematics and science education and math consultant for Standards based math in school districts throughout the Southwest.
Cathy has been involved in many national, state, and district activities since 1994. She was awarded the State teacher of the Year by the New Mexico Farm Bureau, 1996, and Natural Resources Teacher of the Year, 1997.
Horace H. Coburn, Professor of Physics, NMSU, who has been the Mesilla
Park School Science Advisor for four years states " The children find her
class exciting and nurturing of their curiosity. I wish that my grandchildren
could attend her class."
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Last Updated, DPD, 03/03/1999