Lisa McLellan inspires students at Windham High School to love learning science. Her enthusiasm and hard work has earned her recognition as a state finalist for the national Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
After
being nominated for the award by assistant principal Kelli Deveaux, McLellan
chose to go through the rigorous application process. The application included
recording a classroom lesson, and writing a paper on that lesson explaining how
it demonstrates all the dimensions of good teaching, said McLellan. She also
had to gather recommendations from parents, students and administrators. “It was
an involved process, but it was really pretty enlightening. I learned quite a
bit about myself. It made me think about what I was doing and why I was doing
it, and resulted in me improving some of the lessons that I was doing within
that unit,” she said.
A
state committee met and reviewed the applications. Up to five finalists for the
awards can be selected from each state. In Maine this year, four finalists were
chosen, one in mathematics and three in science. The application materials of
each finalist is then sent to a national committee which reviews materials from
all the states and US jurisdictions, and can choose up to two from each to
receive an award. Those who are selected will go to Washington DC to attend
professional development activities and awards events. They each receive a
certificate signed by the President of the United States, as well as a $10,000
award from the National Science Foundation.
The
state finalists came together last week in Gardiner to attend a day of
professional development and to be recognized. McLellan said that was a nice
experience because she was able to talk with the other finalists and share
ideas.
Teaching
at Windham High School was McLellan’s first job after receiving her teacher
certification, and she has now been teaching at the school for ten years. Initially,
she taught physics and chemistry classes. Now, she concentrates on chemistry,
teaching Honors Chemistry, AP Chemistry, and an independent study designed for
students who have completed two years of chemistry and want a third, more
advanced year in the subject.
The
development of the AP Chemistry program is one of McLellan’s teaching
achievements. When she began at the school, it had been a while since they had
offered AP Chemistry, she said. Wanting to teach honors classes, McLellan
struck a deal with the department head. “He told me that he would give me a
shot at the honors classes if I would develop an AP chemistry program and
recruit enough students to make the program viable. I’ve definitely done that,”
she said. There were so many students wanting to take the class this past year
that they considered running two sections. In the end, the budget wouldn’t
allow for that, and they had to cut several students who wanted to take the AP
course.
But
even if students aren’t able to take every course they want, there are other
opportunities to dive into science at the high school. McLellan runs several
extracurricular activities available for students who want to go more in depth
with their studies, including Science Olympiad (co-coach), Science Bowl, and
the ACS Chemistry Olympiad.
Those
activities outside of school offer chances for students to compete, build
things, and solve real world problems, said McLellan. “There’s a lot about it
that is really exciting and really relevant to kids lives and to the world. It’s
really important that we give kids really high bars, and we make it relevant,
and we keep it fun and exciting,” she said.
McLellan
said the most rewarding part of her job is when she hears that former students,
either in college or beyond, are successful. “It’s really exciting to know that
we’re providing them those tools that they need, and then it’s also really nice
that they want to come tell me about it,” she said. “It’s those connections
with kids that last into their adult lives that means that I’ve done something
that made a difference in somebody’s life.”
McLellan
appreciates Windham High School and its science department. She said the way
that the team meets weekly to collaborate with one another is special and
unique. “Everybody’s always coming up with these new things that they want to
do and there’s enthusiasm for it. We don’t just work in our own separate
classrooms.” She said that the
department can only work that way because of the people there, and the support
of the administration.
McLellan
feels supported not only by the school administration, but also by the parents.
“In Windham, the community has been really open to trying new things and being
excited about science. In order to be able to go for this award and have some
success with it, I had to be in a place where it would work. The community has been
really great. It is really a nice place to be,” said McLellan.
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