Dream Flight founder wins presidential awardApril 30, 1999By Lee Powell -- Wausau (Wisconsin) Daily Herald RIB MOUNTAIN - Just as Dream Flight Wausau is about to blast off next week, its founder has received a national award and an invitation to the White House. Sharon Ryan, who conceived Dream Flight eight years ago and teaches at Rib Mountain Elementary School, was named Thursday as a winner of a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching from the National Science Foundation. She will travel to Washington, D.C., in June for four days to receive the award at a White House ceremony and to present the Dream Flight program to members of Congress. Three other math and science teachers in the state also were recognized, along with 208 other teachers across the nation. “It's amazing. I'm just shocked,” said Ryan, who was told of the award this week. “There are so many good science teachers and people out there that do such a good job that you're shocked when they say we've looked over what you've done in the last eight years and we'd like to honor that.” Dream Flight, which starts Monday, is a weeklong program for 5th graders in the Wausau School District that teaches students about science and math by using a space theme. Each elementary school becomes a planet, which students study, and a crew of astronauts travel between the schools in a school bus-turned-space shuttle. Ryan, 48, has been teaching in the district for 23 years. She developed the Dream Flight curriculum for her master's degree as a new way to teach science and math to elementary school students. About a year ago, Ryan said she received a nomination form from the National Science Foundation, which she filled out. It asked her how, as a science teacher, she was applying national and state standards in her lessons. She also had to submit any published academic articles as well as any teaching awards received. Ryan said the first inkling she got that she might have won was in January when the White House sent her a letter asking for personal information so it could perform a background check. “It said, 'we're considering you for a presidential recognition,'” Ryan said. But the recognition comes as no surprise to Superintendent Charles Skurka, who said the Dream Flight program has brought national recognition to the district - thanks in no small measure to Ryan's work. “Sharon Ryan is a dedicated, innovative and enthusiastic teacher who inspires and challenges her students,” Skurka said. “Dream Flight has brought national notoriety and fame to this district. The program is imaginative and gives students a space-science experience that in my opinion is full of new learning and fun.” The Presidential Awards are the nation's highest honor for K-12 mathematics and science teachers, and come with a cash prize of $7,500 that may be spent at the teacher's discretion to advance math and science education within their school or district. Teachers also win an all-expense paid trip to Washington June 7-11. |
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