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Innovative science teachers in Midland and Pecos win Shell lab competition

The innovation of three Permian Basin science teachers has earned their respective schools science lab upgrades.

Kara Murro at Greathouse Elementary School, Erica Reagan at Midland High School and Aimee Peralta at Pecos High School were among 27 teachers in four states to be named regional winners of the Shell Science Lab Regional Challenge. The competition was sponsored by Shell USA, Inc. and administered by the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA).

K-12 teachers in select school districts near Shell assets were asked to share their innovative solutions to lab education in settings with limited resources. Each regional winner received a school science lab makeover support package valued at $10,000 for elementary and middle school levels and $15,000 for the high school level. The winning teachers also have a chance to win another $5,000 of support in the national phase of the competition.

Dr. Frazier Wilson, director, workforce development and diversity outreach at Shell, commended the committed teachers for sharing their approaches with their students and community. They are engaging and motivating “the STEM leaders of tomorrow,” said Dr. Wilson, an effort he added is “commendable and inspiring.”

Added Dr. Erika Shugart, NSTA executive director, “It is clear that these incredible educators’ tireless commitment to education and their focus on powerful science teaching has made a tremendous impact on the quality of learning and student engagement during an extremely challenging year. We applaud all of the regional winners for their resilience, ingenuity, and dedication to their students.”

Shell Science Lab Regional Challenge Regional Winners

Carson Asset

• Middle Level: Joseph Gonzalez, Carnegie Medical Magnet School, Carson, California
• Middle Level: Matthew Medrano, Stephen White Middle School STEAM Magnet, Carson, California
• High School Level: Aulikki Flagan, Ramona Convent Secondary School, Alhambra, California

Deer Park Asset

• Elementary Level: Shannon Fanning, La Porte Elementary School, La Porte Elementary School, La Porte, Texas
• Elementary Level: Jeffrey Gale, Fairmont Junior High School, Pasadena, Texas
• High School Level: Shelby Jones (co-teacher Amanda Lewis), La Porte High School, La Porte, Texas

Geismar Asset

• Elementary Level: Rebecca Gerdes (co-teacher Karen Kneht), Northwestern Elementary School, Zachary, Louisiana
• Middle Level: Savannah Jones (co-teacher Dawn Perret), Sherwood Middle Academic Magnet School, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• High School Level: Renita Atreal Whitaker, Plaquemine High School, Plaquemine, Louisiana

Houston Asset

• Elementary Level: Arianna Martinez-Moody, Harvey Brown Elementary School, Houston, Texas
• Middle Level: Ariel Delos Reyes, Morris Middle School, Houston, Texas
• High School Level: Amy Neblett, Ball High School, Galveston, Texas

Kermit Asset

• Elementary Level: Kara Murrow, Greathouse Elementary School, Midland, Texas
• High School Level: Aimee Peralta, Pecos High School, Pecos, Texas
• High School Level: Erica Reagan, Midland High School, Midland, Texas

Monaca Asset

• Elementary Level: Kristin Holmes, Economy Elementary School, Freedom, Pennsylvania
• Middle Level: Scott Setzenfand, Ambridge Area Middle School Freedom, Pennsylvania
• High School Level: Kimberly Johnson, Valley Junior Senior High School, New Kensington, Pennsylvania

New Orleans Asset

• Elementary Level: Megan Chauvin, Raceland Upper Elementary School, Raceland, Louisiana
• Middle Level: Samantha Kreuscher (co-teacher Yann Colin), Lycée Francais de la Nouvelle-Orléans Middle School, Slidell, Louisiana
• High School Level: Tiffany Booth, Eleanor McMain High School, New Orleans, Louisiana

Norco Asset

• Elementary Level: Tiffany Scott, Luling Elementary School, Luling, Louisiana
• Middle Level: Christie Williams, Albert Cammon Middle School, St. Rose, Louisiana
• High School Level: Cecelia Gillam, Hahnville High School, Boutte, Louisiana

Port Allen Asset

• Elementary Level: Morgan Decuir, Caneview K-8, Port Allen, Louisiana
• Middle Level: Samantha Mendenhall, Port Allen Middle School, Port Allen, Louisiana
• High School Level: Jennifer Bollich, STEM Magnet Academy of Pointe Coupee, Morganza, Louisiana

For more information about the Challenge, visit here.