Fossil Ridge Intermediate teacher named Outstanding Science Educator; STGnews Videocast

ST. GEORGE – The Science Teachers Association of Utah recently named Fossil Ridge Intermediate teacher Kristin Snow the Outstanding Sixth-Grade Science Educator for the state.

An educator for 20 years, Snow said she has taught almost every subject from music to physical education to language arts, but has been teaching science for the past 10 years and loves it.

Snow can’t pinpoint any particular science she likes teaching most, but said she enjoys teaching about fungi, and that the kids love learning about astronomy.

Despite the recent accolade, Snow said that she doesn’t feel like she is any better than other science teachers in the state, or even in her school. She attributes much of her success to staying heavily involved in the educating process from the school to the state level. Snow participates on many boards and helps to write test questions for state tests.

Many people don’t realize that teachers actually write the test questions,” Snow said.

Snow was also quick to thank the team of teachers she works with at Fossil Ridge, saying that they work cohesively together to create lesson plans and teach the students.

One program that Snow was particularly pleased with is “Reach,” an extension program built into the school day that allows teachers to identify struggling students and give them extra time to learn concepts.

Snow said the program works well because of the team she is able to teach with.

“We work very, very closely together,” Snow said, “it is an amazing relationship and partnership with them … it is not uncommon to have somebody else’s students in our classroom.”

Snow said the intervention program has been a huge bonus to their school.

Ric Jaggi, a teacher at Fossil Ridge and member of the sixth-grade science team, echoed Snow’s sentiments about the importance of the Reach program and said that Snow was very instrumental in its design and implementation.

Jaggi complimented Snow on her award and said that it was very well-deserved.

In addition to the teachers at Fossil Ridge, Snow said that the administrators at her school are great to work with.

Our administrators at Fossil Ridge have just always been amazing,” Snow said. “They find resources for us, they find funding for us … they help us with ongoing professional development and they make sure that we get to be a part of the National Science Teachers Association.”

When Snow originally started her education she thought she wanted to teach second grade, but when she spent time in a sixth-grade class, she said, she had found her place.

“I love sixth graders,” Snow said, “they are my kind of people.”

Snow is a mother of two and a self-proclaimed science geek.

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