Master science teachers presented award by Glenn Daehn for impact on pre-college students, incorporating materials science into education

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Glen Daehn rewarding Stem Teach with ASM award
Source: Ben Lackey

Scott Spohler - 2021 Kishor M. Kulkarni winner   |   Global Impact STEM Academy

A science teacher from Global Impact STEM Academy has received a distinguished award for demonstrating a “significant and sustained impact” on students.

Scott Spohler received the 2021 Kishor M. Kulkarni Distinguished High School Award on Friday from the ASM Materials Education Foundation.

“Teaching awards are few and far between, so it’s great to be recognized as a teacher but it’s also great to be recognized by my colleagues. They actually put me up for this award. I was completely surprised and caught off guard to win the award,” Spohler said.

Spohler has been teaching at GISA for five years and is in his 31st year of teaching.

“The school itself has been a great, uplifting place for me to come. We are very STEM-focused, so it’s a lot of hands-on, it’s a lot of labs, it’s a lot of collaborative work. That’s what the kids have to get used to because when they leave here and go to college and into the profession, they’re going to have to work together - that’s one of the driving forces behind our school,” he said.

Jamison Truebenbach, GISA chief academic officer, said Spohler “exemplifies the positive qualities we aim to recognize in all of the educators at Global Impact, and we’re proud of his great accomplishment.”

The award is to recognize outstanding teachers and is given out each year, according to Glenn Daehn, immediate past chair of the ASM Materials Education Foundation and professor of material science and engineering at Ohio State University.

“Our primary thing at the foundation is to have students understand how materials fit into the broader world. We train teachers, and the way we train teachers is we teach master teachers, and Mr. Spohler’s become a leading master teacher in that. Then they teach other teachers. We found the best way to do it is to get high school teachers to get informed by experts like us and then they put it into programs and languages and words in a high school classroom,” Daehn said.

Spohler said it’s a great opportunity to teach other teachers in school and at camps.

“Our goal with the ASM MEF is to get material science into the high schools. Each summer we’re doing camps that are teaching teachers about teaching material science, but it’s not just material science, it’s how you can fit material science into chemistry and into physics and even into physical science ... That’s how we got into it was taking physical science and material science and try to find a way to get them to come together,” Spohler said.

The award was established through a donation by Dr. Kulkarni (past ASM trustee) and his family to honor and recognize the accomplishments of a high school science teacher who has demonstrated a significant and sustained impact on pre-college age students, according to the foundation.

Original article published by Brooke Spurlock at Springfield News-Sun on September 21, 2021


Briana Richardson - 2021 Kishor M. Kulkarni   |   Washington High School

Photo of Briana Richardson, Washington High School, and Glenn Daehn, Ohio State
Briana Richardson, a science teacher at Washington High School, recently received the 2021 Kishor M. Kulkarni Distinguished High School Teacher Award, presented by the American Society for Metals Materials Education Foundation and the Teacher Award Committee. Pictured are: (left-to-right, back) Caroline Frederick, Mary Gerber, Kishan Patel, Evan Weaver and Devon Shepherd: (left-to-right front) Briana Richardson and Dr. Glenn Daehn. 
Credit: The Record-Herald

Briana Richardson, a science teacher at Washington High School, was recently recognized as this year’s recipient of the 2021 Kishor M. Kulkarni Distinguished High School Teacher Award, presented by the American Society for Metals Materials Education Foundation and the Teacher Award Committee.

“Briana has done amazing things in materials science,” said Dr. Glenn Daehn, professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Ohio State University. “She has really risen as one of the leaders among our master teachers.”

Established in 2007, the Kishor M. Kulkarni Distinguished High School Teacher Award recognizes the accomplishments of one high school science teacher who has demonstrated a significant and sustained impact on pre-college age.

“Briana brought the materials science program to Washington High School, and she puts it into a form that resonates with her students,” said Dr. Daehn, who serves as the immediate past chair of the foundation.

The award is presented for sustained commitment to excellence in teaching science, STEM education outreaching, and promoting materials science, leading to significant impacts on the lives and careers of high school students.

Dr. Daehn encouraged students present during the recognition to explore career opportunities in the field and explained, “it’s really important that the United States have the next generation of people to go into these great jobs, ranging all the way from career tech like welding, to PHD Materials Scientists, and the whole spectrum.”

In addition to teaching materials science, Richardson also teaches physical science, chemistry, and physics at WHS.

Following the pandemic year (2020) when nominations for this award were put on hold, Dr. Kulkarni decided to give two awards this year. Scott [Spohler] of the Global Impact STEM Academy was the other recipient of the prestigious award.

“I have had the privilege and good fortune to work with both Briana and Scott on numerous occasions. Their commitment and dedication to the teaching of others is inspiring. I have witnessed them interacting with students and teachers and it is obvious Scott and Briana are truly master teachers,” said Debbie Goodwin, Senior Master Teacher of ASM Materials Camp-Teachers.

In addition to teaching these skills to local students, Richardson is also very active in the foundation, running first year and second year camps for fellow materials science educators.

photo of Briana Richardson, Washington High School, and Scott Spohler, Global STEM Academy
Pictured are Briana Richardson (left) and Scott Sphohler (right).
Credit: The Record-Herald

“Scott and Briana are a remarkable team of Master Teachers who took the lead for our Advanced ‘Year 2’ Teachers Camps both in-person in Ann Arbor in 2019 and virtually in 2020 and 2021,” said Peg Jones, FASM, a trustee of the ASM Materials Education Foundation and volunteer for the ASM Materials Camp.

The Kishor M. Kulkarni Distinguished High School Teacher Award is typically presented at the ASM annual event in the fall; however, this year’s conference was cancelled due to COVID-19.

“We are so blessed to have Ms. Richardson as a part of our team to engage, inspire, and grow with our students each and every day, making a difference in the education of our community,” said Dr. Tom Bailey, Washington Court House City Schools Superintendent.

Original article published by The Record-Herald on September 24, 2021 

Categories: FacultyAwards
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Scott Spohler

High School Science Teacher

2021 winner of the 2021 Kishor M. Kulkarni Distinguished High School Award

globalimpactacademy.org/scott-spohler