UDHS Science Teacher Named Finalist for 2011 Presidential Teaching Award

Teaching is one of those rare professions where an adult is able to change a young person’s life without the child ever realizing.

In my last twelve plus years of education I have come in contact with hundreds of teachers, professors, counselors and principals; but it was only towards the latter portion of my high school career that I could truly acknowledge the time and effort that many of these dedicated individuals were putting in on my
behalf – to give me a better chance to succeed in the future.

I know it sounds jaded, but as in any profession there are teachers that simply approach their job as a nine to five profession. As a teacher, going through the motions of a day is a wasted opportunity to shape the future.

This idea is not passed over by everyone. Upper Dublin School District is filled with dedicated, driven teachers who put so much more time and effort into their profession then is asked by their contract or their students.

At the front of the pack is the one of three finalists for the 2011 Presidential Teaching Award, Mr. Richard Schmidt.

To many students and faculty members Schmidt is an imposing figure, whose stern facial expression and no nonsense personality keeps underclassman far, far away. But behind the expression of the sixteen year science teacher, varsity soccer head coach, and volunteer firefighter is someone who cares more about the content being taught than the grades being given.

A geologist by trade and a veteran of the United States military, Schmidt’s passion for the earth sciences is almost hard to express. He is the type of teacher that causes his former students to further study the topics that he teaches.

Upper Dublin’s K-12 Science Coordinator Chris Smith described Schmidt as innovative, teach-savvy, collaborative and inspirational.

Schmidt’s commitment to student success extends long beyond the hours of the school day and is enough to show any student how much he truly cares. It is selfless actions like helping students read weather maps over Skype and explaining the Correlius Effect in a midnight email that make Mr. Schmidt the special teacher that he is and students like me thankful that we have had the opportunity to learn from him.

In his time at Upper Dublin Schmidt has developed curricula extending from a CSI based forensic science class to one of the only college level earth science classes offered in a Pennsylvania high school. Each one of his classes integrates new technology with always changing content.

All of Schmidt’s students are able to work hands-on with the same high-tech materials used by professionals throughout the world. These materials are nearly all funded by grants that Schmidt wrote himself, on his own time.

When Mr. Schmidt is not busy teaching in his second floor classroom, something that you DO NOT want to interrupt, he can often be found down at Drexel University hard at work for the doctoral degree he is currently in pursuit of.

If you are wondering how Schmidt has flown under the radar so long, it is because recognition is not what he is after. He does not advertise his classes nor boast about their achievements; he simply comes in early every morning, leaves late at night, and inspires the leaders of tomorrow to do great things.

The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania Science Teachers Association at the state level, and by the National Science Foundation (NSF) on behalf of the White House at the national level. The award is regarded as the nation’s highest honors for U.S. Science teachers for grades K-12. Each year, a national committee of distinguished scientists, mathematicians and educators recommends up to 108 teachers to receive the PAEMST awards. The winning teachers receive a 10,000 dollar award, a Presidential citation and a trip to Washington, DC, for a series of recognition events, professional development activities and an awards ceremony.

The White House has not given a time table as to when the winners will be annouced. 

You can follow Keith on Twitter @kzubrow