Sue Powell, principal, Garlough Environmental Magnet School (GEMS), W. St. Paul, MN. To visit the GEMS Web site for learning adventures, Eco-GEMS activities, and connection to the Dodge Nature Center, click on Ms. Powells photo.

Sue Powell recognized for fostering science and math literacy at W. St. Paul school

Created through a partnership between the Science Museum of Minnesota and the Minnesota Elementary School Principals’ Association (MESPA), the award recognizes the vital importance of fostering lifelong science literacy and honors the key role principals play in developing a culture that encourages and celebrates student interest in math and science. The award is offered in alternate years to specialty (science magnets and environmental education schools) and general education school principals. In even years such as 2010, the award is offered to specialty schools.

In reviewing applications for this year’s award recipient, the award committee looked for evidence of the nominees’ support of professional development and coaching for the teachers in their schools, active partnerships with other organizations, efforts to apply math and science standards to curriculum and provide support materials, support of out-of-school as well as in-school experiences, inclusion of families, and evidence of other creative ways of fostering interest in math and science.

Hired in 2005 to lead the transformation from a racially isolated neighborhood school to a nationally recognized environmental school in partnership with Dodge Nature Center, Susan Powell has never doubted the school’s impending success. GEMS enrollment has gone from 275 students in 2005 to 410 this year.

Susan Powell received two nominations for the award: one from her peer Mary Bowman, Principal at Somerset Elementary in W. St. Paul Schools; and the other from Kathleen Lundgren, Magnet Facilitator for W. St. Paul Schools and former Minnesota Department of Education Science Specialist.  Bowman stated that: “The moment you enter GEMS, you realize this school is different. Sue is committed to staff and students learning with and about all types of animals, natural environments, and reducing waste. GEM’s ten  Outdoor Wonder Learning Stations, or OWLS, are outdoor classrooms designed to support and encourage academic excellence as well as natural exploration on the vast wi-fi campus.”

Lundgren further noted Powell’s leadership skills:  “I have had the privilege and enjoyment of working with Sue Powell for the past four plus years as she provided extraordinary leadership in changing a racially isolated neighborhood school into a magnet program that draws multicultural families from within and out of the district. Recently she and the school have been recognized with the 2009 and 2010 Magnet School of Excellence Award by the Magnet Schools of America and the 2009 Hogan and Hartson Award for new and emerging magnet schools.

In her application nominating Powell, Mary Bowman stated: “GEMS isn’t about growing tree huggers, it is about developing young, enthusiastic scientists, committed to life long learning using our natural environment as the integrating force.”

The award committee was struck by several exemplary math and science literacy practices when reviewing Powell’s nominations: that she has exponentially increased achievement in reading and math (as evidenced by MCA scores following full implementation of a nature-based curriculum); that all students go outside for academic learning a minimum of twice a week; that the school provides a nature-based education; that the staff was provided with two full years of monthly professionally-guided staff development/release time to develop a nationally recognized curriculum; that Powell personally leads in the development of writing grants, personally nominates her staff for national and state recognition, personally leads students on weekly walk-to-school days, and personally leads the Girls Excel in Math team; that three times a year all GEMS families are engaged in whole school inquiry projects; and that the school environment is fun with animals (including a variety of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, arachnids, insects and red worm compost bins), and ROT Rangers (recycling and composting), and Therapy Dogs.

As the 2010 Science and Mathematics Elementary Principal of the Year, Powell was honored for her achievement during the Awards Banquet at the MESPA Institute (statewide convention) on Thursday, February 4, in Bloomington, MN.  In addition, Garlough Environmental Magnet students and staff will receive complimentary Science Museum education programming.