Local Teacher Honored By PBS

Teachers find inspiration everywhere.

For Kelley Beall it was Sid The Science Kid, the cartoon blue haired science loving kid on PBS, that motivated.

Beall, a Hillsborough County resource teacher who teaches science to VPK and elementary students across the county and in Carrollwood, loved the way Sid and his friends were hands-on with their experimentation of science concepts. She also loved the way the show was interwoven with an abundance of lessons from literacy to higher level thinking.

She felt her VPK students could benefit.

So Beall developed a learning plan that filled that incorporated Sid into their learning. She broke up a Sid the Science Kid episodes into 7 parts and in between each viewing the students would actually go and do what they had just seen the characters on Sid doing.

For example, the students would watch a clip of Sid and his friends having carpet time with their teacher learning about something interesting and new. After the clip, the students would go have carpet time with their teacher and learn new concepts.

Last summer she piloted the program with her VPK summer class and it was a hit.

"For many of these kids it's their first time in a classroom setting," Beall said. "It was a way to be excited about science."

Beall was recently recognized for her innovative learning technique. She is among the winners of the 2012 PBS Teacher Innovator Award.

The award given through PBS LearningMedia and The Henry Ford Organization recognize 30 PreK-12 educators from across the country who are using digital media in new and unique ways to improve students' learning across key subject areas.

Beall is one of 10 first prize winners. In recognition of her efforts, she will receive a unique weeklong "Innovation Immersion Experience" at The Henry Ford from July 27 to August 2, 2013, a free online professional development course from PBS TeacherLine, an award plaque and a gift bag, according to a statement issued by PBS.

"Professional development and growth is so critical to staying re-energized," Beall said of winning the training. "I myself train teachers so being able to bring them relevant information is critical."

Beall's Sid The Science Kid program will be made available to all Hillsborough County VPK students this summer.