Science Resource Coordinator (retired), Wenatchee School District

Science for all.

Watching the miracle of a seed sprout, witnessing the wonder of water rockets flying high and exploring the amazing world of wiggly critters through the lens of microscope belongs to all children, not just the children of doctors and lawyers, but also the children of migrant workers.

How did this doctor's wife, history major and former banker become a passionate advocate for science education? It would be a fib if I said that I saw the need for trained scientists in the future while building a rainforest in my son's kindergarten class room. But in the tangle of vines and rainforest sloths I only saw fun, hands on engaging fun. It was fun that you could read about and write about, fun that you could touch and understand, even if you did not understand a word of English. And if that fun and new understanding of the magical world of the rainforest led to a high school biology class, which led to a college degree in the health sciences … Wow.

Science for all, success for all.

Mrs. Rutherford, the "science lady" was created that year. Throughout the next twenty whirlwind years of creating informal community science classes, serving on the school district science curriculum adoption committees and being hired as the first WSD Science Resource Coordinator, the fun of hands on science has never been lost, but a firm belief in the importance of science education for all has been strengthened.

Advocacy Efforts:

Beginnings are sometimes difficult to identify.

When did Mrs. Rutherford become the "science lady" in Wenatchee? Did it begin with the after school science classes at Newbery elementary or the summer science classes at the local museum? The fundraising and grant writing necessary to bring the Pacific Science Center vans to all elementary schools in the Wenatchee Valley for five years might have been the beginning point. Leading 500 fifth graders up Saddlerock Mountain each year with over 70 community volunteers staffing teaching stations probably sealed my fate. I'm not sure; I only know that at some point hands on science education became my calling and my passion. College friends still shake their heads in wonder at how the History/American Studies major became an informal science educator and advocate.

Armed with an arsenal of science stuff, science books, and index card speeches I have:

• Promoted science education through the PTSA's and local museums, teaching after school and summer science classes for 18 years.
• Coordinated with the UW and Pacific Science Center the initial Brain Power assemblies in Eastern Washington.
• Developed and coordinated outdoor field experiences for K-5 utilizing community agencies and volunteers. Received the "Spirit of the Community" award in 1991 for developing the Shrub Steppen' Up Saddlerock Field Experience for all 500 fifth graders.
• Chelan County Public Utility District: Ongoing sponsorship and financial support for the fourth grade River of Power Field Experience impacting 700 students from three regional school districts annually.
• WSU Tree Fruit Research Station: Ongoing sponsorship and financial support for the second grade Awesome Apple Field Experience impacting 700 students from three regional school districts annually.
• US Forest Service: $7500; to purchase science equipment for classroom and field use on the Shrub Steppen' Up Saddlerock Field Experience impacting 900 students annually. Materials are loaned to other districts in the region.
• The USFS, Chelan Co PUD and the WSU Tree Fruit Research Station have won awards in their industry for the programs they have developed with us.
• Taught field stations, scheduled classes and advised for 15 years at the Wenatchee River Salmon Festival, serving over 2500 students from North Central Washington annually.
• Served as the first Wenatchee School District Science Resource Center Coordinator for twelve years, establishing the warehouse and developing the curriculum. Retired in 2010.
• Successfully attended the LASER Strategic Institute as a member of the Wenatchee School District science team.
• Served as a faculty member for the 2005 LASER Strategic Institute.
• Wrote and coordinated grants for science education.
• Wenatchee Valley Medical Center: $30,000; Pacific Science Center vans for five years bringing them to all 13 elementary schools in the Valley.
• Rotary: $3400; microscopes for Wenatchee High School Biology.

It is of my work as a science advocate with K-5 elementary teachers that I am most proud.

They are the front line of science with our children. For twelve years I have been involved in the adoption of research based curriculum materials, hauled crayfish, taught teachers the phases of the moon and plowed through every available piece of children's science literature to find the best books in the field. I aligned curriculum to changing state standards, many times writing and rewriting curricular materials to find the perfect fit for the grade level and standard. I fought for staff development time, storage space, and extra minutes in the classroom. My goal has always been to transform science education from ABR (Activities Before Recess) to an integrated part of the elementary curriculum in all classrooms for all children. To the credit of the hard working elementary school teachers and support from organizations such as LASER we've made progress. I have faith it will continue. Thank you for considering me for this honor.