BUCKLAND — Seventh-grade science teacher Samantha Rutz recently won the Massachusetts Association of Science Teacher’s “Franklin County Science Educator of the Year” award for her leadership in the classroom and in the school community.
A Mohawk Trail Regional School teacher since 2012, Rutz has worked closely with colleagues to design course work that helps to increase skills in other core academic areas, according to Mohawk Co-Principal Lynn Dole. Dole said Rutz has been working with elementary and secondary educators to develop the curriculum as the district increases science instruction at the elementary school level.
“As an educator, she is innovative, self-reflective and committed to engaging all students,” Dole said in a nomination letter for Rutz. “Ms. Rutz capably designs curriculum that builds core skills while engaging students in higher-order thinking and problem solving, often with a link to environmental and ecological topics.”
For instance, Rutz’s students produce gallons of syrup they harvest from maple trees on the school grounds.
“This was not only a lesson in a traditional local economic activity but also on the science and economics involved in processing sap into syrup and the mathematics associated with working with various concentrations,” Dole said.
This fall, a County Educator Award was given to a teacher in 13 counties of the state.
The awards will be given to these teachers at the Association’s annual conference on Nov. 3.