DISTINGUISHED HIGH SCHOOL
CHEMISTRY TEACHER AWARD
Ms. Leslie A. Kovach
Leslie
Kovach graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a BA
in Chemistry in 1984. She began her teaching career in 1986 at
Western Branch High School in Chesapeake. Since 1992, she has
been Chair of the Science Department at The Steward School. She
has earned numerous credits in graduate chemistry courses from
various institutions and has attended many workshops and
conferences, including VAST, NSTA and ChemEd conventions. During
her tenure as department chair the department has expanded from
three full-time science teachers to eight and added courses in
Advanced Placement Biology, Advanced Placement Chemistry, and
Environmental Science, as well as a Fundamentals in Research
course that is a graduation requirement. Recently, a Physics
First program for 9th graders has been implemented. This is
followed by chemistry in the 10th grade, biology in the 11th
grade, and numerous senior electives, including AP Biology, AP
Chemistry, Physics II, Environmental Science and Anatomy. The
Steward School has a Family Science Night which involves upper
school students, science teachers (Grades 6-12) and K-5th grade
students and their families. Leslie received Peer Recognition
Awards in 1994, 1995 and 2003.
Leslie says that her teaching philosophy is simple B teachers
should never stop trying new ways to achieve greater success in
educating their students. She is always looking for new ways to
present material as well as new ways to conduct laboratory
experiences. She has begun writing and implementing POGIL
(Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning) activities for her
students. Outside of the classroom, she was very active in the
Richmond Junior Chamber of Commerce, serving as director, vice
president and president of the chapter. She also served at the
state level and in 2002 was named a Life Member of the Virginia
Jaycees, the highest honor that a local chapter can bestow on a
member. She enjoys participating in her children=s activities as
well as singing alto in the Gayton Baptist Church Choir and
recently learned to knit. She hopes to try something other than
a scarf sometime soon!
Ms. Mary P. Younger
Mary
P. Younger received a B.S. degree from Longwood College (now
Longwood University) in Farmville. She has been teaching science
at Robious Middle School in Chesterfield County for 33 years,
serving as Chair of the Science from 1978 until 1988 and again
from 2005 until the present. In 2006, she was recognized as
Teacher of the Year at Robious Middle School. She is now
involved in a program of Expeditionary Learning Opportunities.
This involved a Trip to Denver in July, 2007 for a conference on
Assessment and a recent trip to Phoenix for Science Expeditions.
Mary has this to say about her teaching
philosophy: "Many factors influenced
my decision to become a teacher. Perhaps the most defining
influence was my family. My parents fostered in their children a
love of learning. I wanted to be able to impart to other people
this feeling as well as continuing to learn myself. I have found
that one of the best ways to learn is to teach. During the time
I was in college I remember thinking how I wanted to have the
opportunity to encourage young people to learn. What I did not
know then was I would learn many lessons from my students. It is
a real joy to see understanding dawn on a student=s face or to
hear the pride of accomplishment in a student as they master a
skill or perform a task that requires thinking. One of my goals
in teaching has been to encourage all students to succeed. I
believe that one of my greatest accomplishments has been to make
each child feel that with effort they can be successful in my
classroom as well as in other aspects of their life."