Jeremy Jonas of Tucson High Magnet School has been honored with the 2018 Outstanding Biology Teacher Award for Arizona by the National Association of Biology Teachers, in conjunction with Carolina Biological Supply Co.
Given annually since 1961 to a teacher from each state, the award recognizes teachers who have made invaluable contributions to the profession, enhancing the teaching of biology. Criteria for the award include teaching ability, experience, innovation, initiative, positive student-teacher interactions and collaboration in the school and community.
Jonas has taught biology and biotechnology at Tucson High for the past five years. He also coordinates the Garden and Sustainability Club, and Science and Nature in Tandem for Youth — a week-long ecology field course at the Southwest Research Station in the Chiricahua Mountains.
Jonas has received several grants to enrich the garden and sustainability resources at the school, including grants to create an outdoor kitchen and to install water-bottle refill stations. He also coordinates workshops for University of Arizona’s School Garden Program and Arizona State University’s Sustainability Teachers’ Academy.
18 here are National Merit Scholars
Eighteen Tucson teens have been awarded 2018 National Merit college-sponsored scholarships.
The awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship.
Tucson scholarship winners are: Micaela E. Zachmeier of Arizona Virtual Academy; Jaclyn Simmons-Rolins of Basis Oro Valley; Anne-Laure J. Blanche and Kiah C. Sleiman of Basis Tucson North; Emma K. Petersen and Scott H. Wisnom of Catalina Foothills High School; homeschool students Joseph Galasso and Owen D. Lamb; Ironwood Ridge High School’s Thomas A. Gansheimer; Hayden J. Hilkemeyer and Samantha A. Marquez of Salpointe Catholic High School; and Lee K. Costich, Dylan R. Gardner, Julien A. Hartmann, Celyn T. Jacobs, Matthew V. Kimball, Samuel J. Merson and Kimberly P. Vance of University High School.
An additional group of college-sponsored scholarship winners will be announced in July.
Students took the Preliminary SAT as a screener before approximately 16,000 semifinalists were named. The semifinalists were the highest-scoring entrants in each state.
To become finalists, students had to complete a detailed scholarship application showing an outstanding academic record and be endorsed and recommended by a high school official. They also had to take the SAT and earn scores that confirmed their performance on the initial qualifying test.
About 15,000 students were named finalists and about half were chosen to receive National Merit scholarships.
Public School at Home tour coming to Tucson
The K12 Public School at Home Tour, a traveling, interactive mobile unit, will roll into Tucson on June 20 on a cross-country journey.
The tour is designed to demonstrate how online education options have advanced and can be personalized to better fit parents’ and students’ needs.
The K12 Public School at Home Tour will make the following stops:
- June 20, 23 and 24: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Children’s Museum Tucson, 200 S. Sixth Ave.
- June 21: 9 to 11 a.m. at K12 Blended Learning Center, 5307 E. Broadway.
- June 22: 5 to 8 p.m. at Reid Park Zoo, 3400 E. Zoo Court
STEM-CAN program supports 251 grants
In the 2017-2018 school year, STEM-CAN Supporters funded 251 teacher-requested and principal-approved projects in K-12 conventional neighborhood public schools in Southern Arizona.
The checks paying for the projects totaled more than $133,000, with the average check being $533.
The nonprofit organization relies on donations to support Southern Arizona public schools.
For more information, or to donate, visit stem-can.org
Pima Prevention Partnership accredited
Pima Prevention Partnership schools and services have achieved corporate accreditation by AdvancEd.
Accreditation officials visited Pima Partnership High School, Pima Partnership Academy (middle school), Pima Performing Arts High School, Arizona Collegiate High School, Youth and Family Services, Sin Puertas and Teen Court.
Accreditation findings provide an overview of leadership, learning and resource capacity.
