2014 Innovation in Education Award

The 2014 Innovation in Education Award was presented to JoAnn Smit of Riley Street Middle School.

Pictured left to right: Scott Holzwarth (HEF President), Diane Vugteveen (HEF Vice President), JoAnn Smit, Nicholas Ceglarek (HPS Superintendent), Kathy Hull (HEF Trustee)

Pictured left to right: Scott Holzwarth (HEF President), Diane Vugteveen (HEF Vice President), JoAnn Smit, Nicholas Ceglarek (HPS Superintendent), Kathy Hull (HEF Trustee)

Official Announcement

The recipient of the 2014 Innovation in Education Award is JoAnn Smit, 7th grade science teacher at Riley Street Middle School.

JoAnn was nominated by a parent for her work on a science project. She challenged her students to utilize their science knowledge to promote environmental change in our community. The end result was several creative and meaningful projects presented to family, friends, and community leaders. Some of the ideas were used by the Macatawa Watershed Project. The Macatawa Watershed Project was created in 1999 with a goal to reduce the amount of phosphorus that enters Lake Macatawa, through rain run-off, by approximately 70% through public awareness, education, and Best Management Practices.

JoAnn is being recognized for her passion, energy, and love for science that extends beyond the classroom and into our greater community.

A quote from the nomination…
“It is with great enthusiasm that I nominate JoAnn Smit for this award. She has trusted and guided her students to accomplish what some might see as an adult task. She used innovation in education to partner with a community agency and solve an environmental problem with the use of a valuable community resource… our students.”