Council Rock Educator Wins National Earth Science Teaching Award

NEWTOWN, PA — An Earth and space science teacher at the Newtown Middle School in the Council Rock School District has been selected to receive the 2025 American Geoscience Institute's (AGI) Edward C. Roy Jr. Award for Excellence in K-8 Earth Science Teaching.

"Dave Curry is the sort of passionate, engaging Earth science educator who helps young people realize the life-changing potential of geoscience," said AGI Executive Director Dr. Jonathan Arthur in announcing the award. "Through instruction that makes authentic connections to geoscience ideas and practices, he helps students explore the ways that Earth science relates to real-world issues such as public safety, infrastructure development, technological innovation, and economic prosperity."

Given annually, AGI's Edward C. Roy Jr. Award recognizes a kindergarten to eighth grade teacher for leadership and innovation in Earth science education. The award is named in honor of Dr. Edward C. Roy Jr., who was a strong and dedicated supporter of Earth science education.

A dedicated lifelong learner, Curry says that his teaching has been reinvigorated by recent professional development experiences as a mentor for the American Meteorological Society's DataStreme Atmosphere, Ocean, and Climate graduate courses for teachers. Such experiences have
enabled him to advance authentic lessons that engage students with real-world problems through activities that mirror the work of professionals and connect them with scientists.

For example, Curry has developed a multi-month, computer-based lab exercise — building on NASA's Sally Ride EarthKAM (Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle school students) educational program — that empowers students to work with satellite images and data to explore phenomena such as weather, geologic processes, coastal erosion, and plate tectonics.

Curry earned his bachelor's degree at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and his master's degree from Arcadia University. In his 33 years as an Earth science educator at the middle- and high-school levels, he has won awards for his teaching from several prominent geoscience organizations, including the National Association of Geoscience Teachers and Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (now Seismological Facility for the Advancement of Geoscience).

Curry, who has taught Earth Science at the middle school and high school levels for the past 33 years he is known for his enthusiastic engagement of students and serves as local school sponsor for science fairs, routinely encouraging participants to focus projects on Earth and space science.

In addition to holding membership in multiple professional educator associations including the National Earth Science Teachers Association, he serves on the boards of directors of the National Middle Level Science Teaching Association and the American Meteorological Society Board for Pre-College Teaching.

As part of the award, Curry will receive a $2,500 cash prize and up to $1,500 for professional travel. Both he and his school will receive plaques recognizing the accomplishment. Curry will be recognized in a ceremony during the National Earth Science Teachers Association's Friends of Earth Science Reception at the National Science Teaching Association's Annual Conference in Philadelphia this month.