Schools

Souhegan High Teacher in Running for Presidential Award

SHS Science teacher Jenny Deenik was recently honored by the New Hampshire Department of Education as an "outstanding educator."

Souhegan High School Science teacher Jenny Deenik is a New Hampshire Finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, school officials announced on Wednesday.

In a press release issued by SAU 39, Rob Scully, principal of Souhegan High School, said Deenik has been recognized for bringing “inspiration” to her community, and for being a “leader in the improvement” of science education. The New Hampshire Department of Education has honored Deenik as an “outstanding educator who makes a significant contribution to the lives and futures of our children.”

Scully said a highlight of her professional practice is learning about new technology to support her teaching. He explained that as part of a pilot study with the Concord Consortium, a nonprofit educational research and development organization, Deenik is introducing her students to Geniverse, an inquiry based computer program that engages students in the breeding of “drakes” for the purposes of understanding principles of genetics and meiosis. 

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“This software program fully supports my inquiry based style of teaching and the students have benefited tremendously from the experience,” said Deenik in a prepared statment. “As they are playing, they are making discoveries that they can then connect to the unit’s concepts and skills.”

According to Scully, the Presidential Award for Excellence is awarded to teachers who demonstrate mastery in five areas of teaching: content, effective instruction and assessment, reflective practice and life-long learning, and finally, leadership in education outside the classroom. As a 10th grade Biology teacher, Deenik uses inquiry-based learning to both motivate students and teach essential concepts and skills, he said.

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