D&E students to attend conference
ELKINS — Trustee and alumna Nancy Evans Bennett and her husband, James Messersmith, both experts in the field of science teaching methods, are helping Davis & Elkins College education students continue their learning by networking with the state’s practicing science teachers.
With Bennett and Messersmith’s support, along with funding from the D&E Student Education Association, 10 education students and Associate Professor of Education Dr. Jennifer Tesar will attend the West Virginia Science Teachers Association 2017 Conference on Nov. 2-4 at Olgebay Resort and Conference Center in Wheeling.
Bennett and Messersmith, who are members of the steering committee for the New Jersey Science Convention, volunteered their time to present sessions on science methods for education students during Winter Term 2017. The idea to send the students to the WVSTA Conference resulted from their interactions.
Students attending the conference are seniors Kelsey Arbogast of Beverly; Grayson Blythe of Wooster, Ohio; Tiffany Dodd of Petersburg; Hannah Evans of Kerens; Meaghan Eyler of Keyser; Marcy Gilbert of Elkins; Sarah Gustafson of Bridgeport; Victoria Kyle of Elkins; Tori Louk of Mill Creek; and Charity Lower of Huttonsville.
At the conference, the students will hear from practicing West Virginia science teachers, and will also again learn from Bennett and Messersmith, who were chosen to present a session on magnets.
The Davis & Elkins College Teacher Education Program prepares competent, caring and qualified teachers for schools in Appalachia and in national and global communities. Students seeking certification in elementary education grades kindergarten through sixth undertake a major in education, which leads to the awarding of a Bachelor of Arts degree. A student seeking certification in a content specialization (grades five to none, and/or 9 to adult) must declare a major outside of education with a declared minor in
education.