2007 Distinguished Service Award

Joanne Spaziano - Cranston, Rhode Island

It is with great gratitude that NEED selects Joanne Spaziano of Park View Middle School as a recipient of the 2007 Distinguished Service Award. Over the past 13 years, Joanne has been an active learner and active leader in NEED programs. Joanne has worked to incorporate comprehensive energy programs into her math, science, and language arts curriculum. Her students have responded, and their activities in America Recycles Day, NEED, and Rhode Island’s Solar Schools program have made her a mentor to other teachers in Rhode Island and beyond.

Her students learn by doing and, as a result, are among the best of NEED’s student leaders nationally.  Joanne believes in education – but even more strongly in energy and environmental education. She lives the environmental ethic on a daily basis and instills that ethic in her students. Joanne believes in teaching students from a realistic perspective and encourages them to learn about energy in a balanced way – understanding the principles of solar power and of coal-generated electricity. Her students prepare lessons and deliver community workshops at Home Depot to teach customers about compact fluorescent lighting. She hosts six workshops a year for teachers across Rhode Island and provides follow-up leadership and support to those teachers. She’s one of Rhode Island’s best and one of NEED’s best as well. 

Her work has not stayed in the boundaries of the school in which she teaches – it thrives and reaches beyond. As a certified NEED trainer, she has facilitated over 20 NEED workshops in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, as well as NEED’s national conferences and outreach initiatives. These workshops provide professional development for classroom teachers on energy forms, sources, electricity generation, and teaching controversial topics.  Joanne has bridged the gap between disciplines – making energy and the environment a common thread into which all education disciplines are woven. NEED is lucky to have her as our Rhode Island Lead Teacher and as a national trainer, as well. 

Joanne is exactly the type of committed, dynamic educator who should be recognized for her work in energy and the environment.  She is a talented leader, a mentor to students, and a strong presence to look up to for all. That combination provides students with the knowledge of energy and the environment, but also with the leadership skills they will continue to draw upon as adults.  Joanne deserves this recognition, and NEED is proud to recognize her achievements and dedication to energy education and to students. 

Gerald Harrington - Roswell, New Mexico

With gratitude and appreciation, NEED presents a 2007 Distinguished Service Award to Gerri Harrington. For many years, Gerri has served as NEED’s long-term partner in southeastern New Mexico, generating support for teacher workshops and sponsorships for educators from Roswell and the surrounding community. Gerri’s “real job” as a petroleum geologist and landman brought him to an appreciation for the work NEED does in schools – providing a balanced approach to energy education and encouraging students and teachers to consider careers in the energy industry. 

Gerri, as a member of the Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico, has encouraged IPANM’s support of NEED programming and has served as host for many teachers for NEED one-day workshops, summer training conferences, and for field trips throughout southeastern New Mexico – into the oilfield.  Gerri always takes the time to teach, as well. Whether reviewing NEED’s classroom materials or visiting a classroom to teach about geology, petroleum or natural gas, he is always a teacher. His energy, his commitment and his dedication to today’s teachers and students and tomorrow’s leaders is extraordinary.

As a sponsor of NEED programs, Gerri exemplifies the importance of partners to NEED’s efforts – personally and professionally supporting energy education in their local communities and throughout the country. 

Gerri, we appreciate all you and your lovely wife Patt do for NEED.   

 

Distinguished Service Award Winner History

1983 Donald Duggan

1984 John Fowler

1985 Walt Purdy

1986 Leslie Ramsey

1987 Janet White Castellini

1988 Rich Ammentorp

1989 Ed Dalton

1990 Alan Sowards

1991 Casey Woodard

1992 Paul Torcellini

1993 Kathryn McCoy

1994 Donna Robinson

1995 Shauni Nix

1996 Carol Wilson

1997 Hank Sullivan

1998 Marie Lauricella

1999 Julie Capobianco

2000 Debby Yerkes

2001 Peggy Chamness

2002 Anne Allen and Chyrall Dawson

2003 Larry Richards and Mary Lou Green

2004 Scott Sutherland and John Weiner

2005 Libby Dudley, Marietta Devine, and Linda Hutton

2006 Constance Beatty

2007 Gerald Harrington and Joanne Spaziano