Bishop Dunne Science Teacher Perri Carr Named District Winner in the 2016 Shell Science Lab Challenge Administered by the NSTA
18 District Winners Competing For Up To $93,000 in Prizes, Including a $20,000 School Science Lab Makeover Support Package
Perri Carr, a science teacher at Bishop Dunne since 2013, has been named a district winner in the Shell Science Lab Challenge, a competition for middle and high school science teachers.
Sponsored by the Shell Oil Company and administered by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), the competition encouraged teachers (grades 6-12), who have found innovative ways to deliver quality lab experiences with limited school and laboratory resources, to share their approaches for a chance to win a school science lab makeover support package valued at $20,000. Carr is one of 18 district winners named, from which five national finalists will be chosen, and from the national finalists a grand prize winner will be selected.
Carr has taught Advanced Placement science for 33 years. Her Bachelor of Science degree is from Texas A&M University and her Master’s degree in Science was earned at Texas Christian University.
Mrs. Carr teaches AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, and pre-AP Biology. Her specialty is the incorporation of student field studies and STEM projects in her classes. A current AP Environmental Science exam reader, she also leads AP Biology and AP Environmental Science preparation workshops for teachers and students. Her recent accomplishments include being selected as a Toyota International Teacher for the Galapagos program in 2008, repeating as a Texas Healthy Habitat grant winner for a prairie restoration and green roof project, authoring a lab for a college environmental science text, developing a Duke TIP class, and earning her Texas Master Naturalist certification. She has led student field and mission trips to the Galapagos and Costa Rica. She developed and led a marine biology field course in the Bahamas for several years and looks forward to exploring similar innovative programs at Bishop Dunne. A lifelong learner, she recently took a graduate course on climate change.
To enter the Shell Science Lab Challenge, science teachers of grades 6-12 in the United States and Canada were asked to describe their school’s current laboratory resources, explain why the school’s laboratory facilities might be classified as “limited” resources, and describe their approach to science education instruction utilizing their school’s current lab facilities. A panel of science educators then reviewed and selected the top entries.
As a district winner, each teacher and their school will receive a $3,000 science lab prize package that includes:
Recognizing that the laboratory experience is integral to science education and that many schools, especially schools in urban and rural areas, do not have the resources to invest in quality lab equipment, NSTA and Shell partnered on NSTA’s Shell Science Lab Challenge to bring much needed lab materials and resources to school districts nationwide and in Canada.
Announcement of the national finalists and grand prize winners will be on Monday, March 21, 2016.
For more information about Bishop Dunne and its Science department see the website: www.bdcs.org
About NSTA
The Arlington, VA-based National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA's current membership includes approximately 55,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in science education.
About Shell Oil Company
Shell’s commitment to community and social responsibility has been in place for more than 50 years. During this time, we have contributed more than a billion dollars to support community, health and welfare, environmental, arts and cultural activities, various educational initiatives, including minority education, and diversity and inclusiveness programs in Houston and the U.S.
FOR INQUIRIES CONTACT: Shell Oil Company Media Line +1 (713) 241- 4544 or Cindy Workosky, (703) 312-9248