HHS Physics Teacher Awarded STEM Teaching Fellowship

HHS Physics teacher Randy Gunnell has been awarded a teaching fellowship in STEM education sponsored by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in Tarrytown, New York. In a unique collaboration between teachers at the nonprofit STEM Leadership Center, Regeneron, NASA Endeavor and Teachers College through U.S. Satellite Laboratory, this competitive award confers a sixteen month professional development experience to ten local science teachers.

The fellowship program that Mr. Gunnell is attending is designed by award winning science teachers at the STEM Leadership Center in White Plains, New York, and consists of coursework leading to a graduate certificate in STEM Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University and a two week summer research experience in the labs of Regeneron. As advances in technology fuel job growth in STEM fields, the STEM Teaching Fellowship helps Fellows become master science teachers who will inspire and prepare students for college and careers in STEM.

As an example of the work being done, Mr. Gunnell is currently developing curriculum regarding solar insolation and the power we get from the sun during different times of the year. With this fellowship, he, his colleagues, and his students are able to use current resources from NASA to gauge the impact of the changes to the earth’s insulation at different points in time - whether decades ago, years ago, or months ago.

“The fellowship is very collaborative,” said Mr. Gunnell. “We participate in presentations with last year’s cohort and the research and feedback is responsive and investigative.”

In addition to teaching physics, Mr. Gunnell also partners with his colleague Allison Blunt to teach Harrison Science Research – a three year program of study for students interested in delving more deeply into scientific research and experimentation. At the conclusion of every academic year, students present their research at Harrison’s annual Science Symposium. Many of Mr. Gunnell’s students have participated in prestigious scientific competitions such as the Westlake Science Fair and the Westchester Engineering and Science Fair.