Blanding teacher is science teacher of year

Robert Turk, a fifth grade teacher at Blanding Elementary School, was awarded the Elementary Science Teacher of the Year for the southeast region by the Utah Science Teacher Association (UtSTA). 
Several science teachers from San Juan School District made the annual trek to Provo, UT to attend the UtSTA Conference.
The science standards outlining the science core and how they teach science concepts have changed dramatically. Local teachers have been working hard to understand and implement ways of teaching science by attending these conferences and summer trainings.
For the past two years, Turk has also taken the time to help other teachers in the district create lesson plans and share his ideas and lessons to help strengthen education in all schools during the summer STEM workshops.   
Turk and his close-knit fifth grade team teach science in a memorable and motivating way. These students have scored consistently higher in science than in any other subject for the past several years and have competitive scores at the state level.
Good teaching is good teaching, and it is evident that Turk has been using the best practices in his classroom for years.
The rise in student achievement is remarkable year after year, not because they do worksheets, but because they do science. 
The labs and demonstrations are what make students take notice and want to learn, not to mention the boost in their self-esteem when they realize anyone can do science. 
This award was one small way of recognizing his dedication to making a meaningful impact on every student who passes through his classroom door.
The new science standards are still being reviewed and can be influenced by everyone – parents, teachers, and community members.  If you want to look them over and give feedback, please go to www.schools.utah.gov/