Resource teacher, mathematics and science for Kindergarten-Grade 5

John S. Irwin Elementary School

Fort Wayne, IN

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES AND AWARDS: She began teaching in 1981-1985 at Fort Wayne's Memorial Park Middle School, Summit Magnet Program, after field work 1978-79 in Grades 3-5 at Monroe County Community School Corporation, Bloomington. Taught since 1995 at Irwin Elementary. Member since 1985 of the board of Science Central, Inc., and involved in developing its regional "hands-on" Mathematics, Science, and Technology Center; in implementing its "Teach Reach" traveling exhibit of electricity and magnetism, and in planning and implementing its summer experiential exhibit for the public. Received the Apple of Achievement Award in 1999 from ITT and the Allen County Local Education Fund Recycling Education Award in 1999 from Mayor Paul Helmke and the two first place awards in the 2000 Elmhurst Windsong Film Festival for a student documentary, "Furthermore -- Sound," and an adult documentary, "Mars Polar Lander." Member of choir since 1993 at Peace Lutheran Church where she also is a former preschool board member and Parents' Club member at Unity Lutheran School. She and her husband, Robert, are parents of three sons, David, Ryan, and Eric.

EXCERPTS from comments by colleagues: Mrs. Michael is "an inspiration to everyone around her and has a unique capacity to get everyone enthusiastic about learning." She is "enthusiastic, and always cheerful ... she arranges our science field trips, makes them truly enriching for the children, and the people we meet are always amazed about what our children are studying. ... When we were studying soil, she brought in a woman who helped the children understand compost, and all the things that go with soil and soil conservation." "She was in charge of all science fairs and set up rubrics for what a science fair should REALLY be." "She finds ways to expand the science program as she did with the photography lab and television studio so that every student has access to both. She produced a videotape about sound, how it travels and how it's used. Now the video is a teaching tool for other schools."