Lighting up the classroom

COEUR d’ALENE — An advanced learning teacher is lighting up her field, as well as the classrooms at Fernan STEM Academy.

Science educator Courtney Greene has been nominated to receive the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST). The National Science Foundation administers the PAEMST on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

According to the PAEMST national website, the award recognizes educators who have “deep content knowledge of the subjects they teach and the ability to motivate and enable students to be successful in those areas."

“She always keeps us active,” fourth-grader Brooklyn Turnbull said. "When we do activities, she always makes it fun."

Last week, Greene and her co-teacher, fourth grade teacher Becky Webb, illuminated their students' minds with a project using copper tape, watch batteries and colored lights to make light-up Valentine's Day cards.

"She’s nice, she's really nice,” fourth-grader Tanner Lauper said of Greene. "She’s really good at this stuff, because she’s a scientist and she knows a lot of things."

Greene received the news in December that she is one of six math and science teachers in Idaho selected as finalists for the PAEMST. Other finalists hail from Eagle, Boise, Sandpoint, Potlatch and Juliaetta. She's the only finalist in Kootenai County.

She said she had an inkling she might be nominated because a friend working at the state level dropped a clue. Still, Greene was surprised by the honor.

“It was kind of shocking, but also very gratifying, because there’s a lot of work that goes into the application," Greene said. "And with COVID and everything, it’s kind of been crazy."

This is Greene's first year at Fernan after spending a year at Bryan Elementary and 10 years at Hayden Meadows Elementary. As an advanced learning teacher, she does not have her own classroom, so her science lessons go with her as she co-teaches with Webb in the afternoons.

"It’s been great, and a huge honor to work with Becky and actually steal her kids for science this year," Greene said.

When it comes to the joy Greene experiences in helping illuminate little minds, she admits, "It's pretty selfish, because I love to continually learn and play, and kids are so open-minded to try new things,” she said. “That really is the joy, that you don’t ever stop learning.”

Webb praised Greene’s work, especially her ability to ask questions that really make students think.

“I always find that most of the power in a good teacher is their questioning, and she’s very good at questions that bring about that higher level critical thinking,” Webb said. "In that area, she soars, for sure."

Webb said she met Greene at a retreat a while back and always hoped Fernan would one day add Greene to its staff of STEM-focused educators.

"Every time we’d hire, I’d say, 'We have to get Courtney Greene over here,’" Webb said. "She adds a lot to our STEM school, specifically. Her ideas, I feel, could really take this school to the next level. Like, a famous STEM school."

All six Idaho teachers will advance to nationals. If Greene is selected as the awardee, she will receive a certificate signed by President Joe Biden, a trip to Washington, D.C. to attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities, and a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation. Awardees will be announced this spring.

This round is dedicated to K-6 teachers, but the next will focus on seventh through 12th grades as the program alternates every year. Nominations for math and science teachers at the secondary level are open through March 1.

Info: www.paemst.org