NORFLEET RECEIVES SALUTE 2007 EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AWARD
Program Specialist for MySci™ Honored by St. Louis American Foundation
ST. LOUIS, Sept 25, 2007 – Darlene Norfleet, program specialist for MySci, has been selected by the St. Louis American Foundation to receive a Salute to Excellence in Education Award. The award, designed to recognize contributions by African-Americans in various realms of education, honors Norfleet’s commitment to help close achievement gaps and to interest young students in science.
Currently with the MySci program, Norfleet works closely with elementary students during visits from a 37-foot trailer, known as the “Investigation Station.” Her background in implementing professional development programs has allowed her to encourage and train teachers to utilize the inquiry-based approach of the MySci curriculum.
“I am truly honored to be considered for such an award,” says Norfleet. “There are so many teachers in this area who go unnoticed, so I am humbled to be recognized. I can only hope that it will result in greater awareness of the need for interactive learning, especially in the realm of science.”
Norfleet’s accomplishments throughout 29 years of teaching further demonstrate her outstanding commitment to education. Following her first position at Flynn Park Elementary in the University City School District, this woman became a leader in a variety of other educational initiatives within the city of St. Louis. She was a member of the leadership team for the Science Education Equity Reform (SEER) project; served as a professional development consultant for Riverview Gardens’ Renaissance in Science Education (RISE) program; and was president of the local National Education Association. Norfleet has also developed the syllabus for the first set of classes in the Education 6000 Hands-On Science K-8 Series at Washington University and worked closely with the Washington University Science Outreach to help develop the program.
For the state of Missouri, Darlene participated in the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) annual Young Years conference and in Project Construct. Through the latter project she discovered how young children construct their learning and helped teachers design student-centered classrooms. On a national level, Norfleet was part of the National Science Academy’s Committee on Science Education K-12 (COSE-K12) where she worked to ensure national science education standards were correctly implemented. At an annual American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) meeting, Norfleet offered the keynote speech as an expert in elementary education.
About MySci
MySci, funded by Monsanto, is a collaborative effort among the following institutions: Washington University in St. Louis, the Saint Louis Science Center, the Missouri Botanical Garden and the Saint Louis Zoo. MySci’s mission is to enhance a sense of wonder and interest in science for children and their teachers. The MySci program gives early elementary students all over St. Louis the chance to study science through inquiry. It provides curriculum books and classroom kits in the topics of plants, animals and the earth. It also includes a visit from the newly designed Investigation Station, a roving vehicle of innovative exhibits and specimens which makes learning through climbing, crawling, seeing, hearing and smelling more exciting than ever. MySci is getting an early start on recruiting the next generation of scientists.
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