Schools

N. Kingstown Resident Receives Teaching Grant & Award

Joanne Kearns of North Kingstown was awarded a $5,000 grant from Amgen for exemplary science teaching.

N. Kingstown resident and Reservoir Avenue Elementary School teacher Joanne Kearns was one of four recipients of the 2011 Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence in the state last month.

The fourth-grade teacher is among 34 recipients across the continent to receive the award, ranging from teachers in California to Kentucky to Canada and even Puerto Rico. The program was designed to recognize extraordinary science teachers at the K-12 level who “significantly impact their students through exemplary science teaching.” Each teacher and their respective school receives an unrestricted $5,000 grant to be used for the expansion or enhancement of the school’s science program or resources. Since the program’s inception in 1992, Amgen has awarded more than $3 million to more than 200 educators.

Amgen Vice President for Rhode Island Operations Tony Pankau and Deputy Commissioners and General Counsel of the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education David Abbott were on hand May 19 at the Providence Biltmore Hotel to honor Kearns as she was joined by Anthony Borgueta (Barrington Middle School), Shannon Donovan (Scituate High School) and Mary Frances Hanover (Providence Country Day School) to receive the awards.

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