Teacher Travel Grant Program
Beginning with the Phoenix meeting, AMS has established a Teacher Travel Grant Program to help fund the expenses associated with attended the AMS Annual Meeting.
2019 Teacher Travel Grant Winners
Staci Deschyrver
I have one of the few meteorology classes available to high school students, so this infusion of meteorology-driven lesson ideas always recharges my lesson plans and helps me to feel like I’m not on an “island” when teaching my most favorite subject!
I am attending the AMS Annual Meeting this year because it is hands down the best opportunity for professional development in the meteorological community. One of my favorite conferences at the meeting is the Conference on Education, particularly the pre-college session where I get some incredible ideas to take back to my classroom. I have one of the few meteorology classes available to high school students, so this infusion of meteorology-driven lesson ideas always recharges my lesson plans and helps me to feel like I’m not on an “island” when teaching my most favorite subject!
Heidi Beatty
I am looking forward to attending sessions that enhance my core-knowledge as well as have the opportunity to gather activities to utilize with students as soon as I return. Last year alone, I walked away with several projects and information to share with my students and local teachers.
As the third grade teacher at Northeast Nodaway (NEN) School District in Ravenwood, Missouri, I am excited to learn from professionals, fellow teachers and all types of scientists at AMS 100 in order to change my classroom teaching, deepen my school district's knowledge about weather and strengthen my local communities' engagement in weather-related education. This past fall, I used the connections I made at AMS 99 to obtain a grant to create an outdoor classroom space with an interactive weather lab for all grades. I am just as eager this year to find innovative ideas and foster new relationships that can bring the science of weather and climate alive in our small northwest Missouri community!
Sarah Geborkoff
As a science teacher in rural upper Michigan and an attendee last year, my eyes were opened to the relevance and importance of the earth and atmospheric science concepts I teach beyond the (8th grade) classroom walls in new ways. I returned with many ideas and new ambition to put what I had learned to work.
I am grateful for the opportunity to attend the 2020 AMS Annual Meeting for several reasons. As a science teacher in rural upper Michigan and an attendee last year, my eyes were opened to the relevance and importance of the earth and atmospheric science concepts I teach beyond the (8th grade) classroom walls in new ways. I completed my first Datastreme course, created a presentation for my students and administration that showcased my experience and what I learned, and re-designed my 8th grade weather unit to include more technology and application. The most notable of my accomplishments after returning from the 2019 meeting is the creation and approval of a new high school Environmental Science class which I am currently teaching for the first time in my district this school year.
Jennifer Burgin
Burgin is excited to attend the American Meteorological Society’s 100th Annual Meeting and represent educators of young learners.
Jennfier Burgin, NBCT is an elementary educator at Oakridge Elementary in Arlington, VA, where she currently teaches 22 of the most amazing Kindergarteners who hail from over 8 countries and speak multiple languages. Burgin is excited to attend the American Meteorological Society’s 100th Annual Meeting and represent educators of young learners. Her goal for applying is to bring back strategies for the classroom to make weather meaningful to young learners through connecting data collection, weather related jobs, community needs, and cross-disciplinary storytelling through art, media, and the human experience.
Shani Yhakobovich
Science is always evolving and growing I am so grateful to have been granted this opportunity to make science a more live component of my classroom...
My name is Shani, and I am a middle school science teacher in Brooklyn, New York. My students are always so enthusiastic about learning new things and expanding their knowledge and science. Science is always evolving and growing, and I am so grateful to have been granted this opportunity to make science a more live component of my classroom and bringing all the knowledge that I won’t be able to obtain during this conference. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this community. I look forward to learning and passing that on to my students.
Shelly Hassett
I’m excited to be at the 100th Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society to deepen my knowledge of meteorological science and the resources available for educators. Studying weather is an easy and practical way to inspire curiosity and empower my students to investigate the world around them
I’m a science resource teacher at Robinson Littleton Elementary in Florida. I’m excited to be at the 100th Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society to deepen my knowledge of meteorological science and the resources available for educators. Studying weather is an easy and practical way to inspire curiosity and empower my students to investigate the world around them. The technology, maps, and models used by meteorologists can be powerful tools for student engagement if you have just a little knowledge about how to use them. I’m grateful for the opportunity the teacher travel grant has given me to attend this conference and cannot wait to share what I learn with my colleagues and students.
Thomas Harten
I’m excited to attend the AMS Annual Meeting to increase my own content knowledge about meteorology, explore ideas to strengthen existing units, and to spark ideas for new activities for our students.
I’m a teacher with the CHESPAX environmental education program of the Calvert County Public Schools in Maryland. Weather and climate are closely linked with environmental health. Many of the units that I’ve developed incorporate investigations about the impact of weather on our local ecosystem. I’m excited to attend the AMS Annual Meeting to increase my own content knowledge about meteorology, explore ideas to strengthen existing units, and to spark ideas for new activities for our students. I’m thankful for the support of the AMS!
Susan Whitehead
I applied to attend the AMS conference because I am becoming more and more interested in being able to educate my 6th grade students about climate change in a thoughtful and realistic way.
I applied to attend the AMS conference because I am becoming more and more interested in being able to educate my 6th grade students about climate change in a thoughtful and realistic way. This seemed to be a great opportunity for me to learn a lot of accurate and current information about weather and climate in a short amount of time (and in a wonderful city!).