Seacoast Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . An Independent Middle School

National Science Teachers Association honors Seacoast Academy teacher

Science educator named national fellow
By Amy Kane

hamptonunion@seacoastonline.com

December 21, 2007 6:00 AM

HAMPTON FALLS — A love of teaching and the great outdoors inspires science teacher Lynne Standish.

Standish teaches at Seacoast Academy, a private middle school in Hampton Falls. She has worked as a camp counselor at Seacoast Science Center, an AmeriCorps volunteer bringing environmental education to Boston schools, and a naturalist on New England Aquarium whale watches.

"Her experience speaks volumes about her commitment to science, the environment and kids," said Scott Votey, head of school at Seacoast Academy.

The National Science Teachers Association, the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning, recently named Standish, 29, a 2007 Amgen-NSTA Fellow. Selected from nearly a thousand applications nationwide, the 200 Fellows and Associate Fellows are taking part in a yearlong program of science-related activities and professional development opportunities. The fellowship is targeted toward teachers who display a strong interest in growing as professional science educators. Web-based online communities and seminars for Fellows will culminate in a trip to the National Conference on Science Education in Boston in March.

Standish teaches science to the 31 sixth- and seventh-graders at Seacoast Academy. The school is in its first year; an eighth-grade will be added next year. The school has the capacity for 30 students per grade. "I really love it here. The other teachers are great mentors," said Standish.

But as the only science teacher she wanted to make professional connections in her subject, so she applied for the fellowship. She was matched with an online mentor, a New Hampshire middle school science teacher. The exchange of ideas has been invaluable, said Standish. She writes her own science curriculum for the school.

"I just finished cells and cell processes with seventh-grade; sixth just started matter and atoms," she said on a recent morning at the school's spacious renovated farmhouse on Exeter Road.

Standish taught science at two middle schools in Boston, and last year at Portsmouth High School, but middle school is her favorite age. "They have so much curiosity and enthusiasm," she said. Field trips have included a visit to the Sandy Point Discovery Center on Great Bay and tide pooling at Odiorne Point. The spacious grounds of the academy's location on Liberty Farm, and the neighboring Tonry Tree Farm, provide plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities.

According to Votey, Standish's experience in high school has helped her teach bright middle schoolers. "She can bring the high school material to a middle school level," said Votey. "She is very strong on environmentalism, and we decided we wanted to make that the centerpiece." Votey praised Standish for her maturity, poise and confidence. "She has the personality of a natural teacher," he said.

Standish lives in Portsmouth with her dog, an Irish greyhound named Orla. She likes cooking, neighborhood walks with Orla, and more adventurous hikes in the great outdoors.

Standish grew up in Framingham, Mass., and graduated with a bachelor's degree in wildlife biology from the University of Rhode Island. After a year in Boston public schools with AmeriCorps, she knew she wanted to teach. She earned her master's degree in science education at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, N.Y. The field she is most passionate about is oceanography. "On whale watches we saw some amazing creatures — whales, basking sharks, sea turtles, sunfish," she said. As a teacher, Standish now shares her knowledge and love of the natural environment with her students.

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Past Events:

Book Fair at Barnes & Noble, on December 2 PASA raised over $900! Thanks to all who attended and to Ron King who talked about his new book, Quantum July. All in all it was a great Seacoast Academy gathering.

Barnes & Noble Bookfair Vouchers

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