Techno Savvy Teacher

Dianne Clowes, a middle school science teacher with 20 years experience, believes that students today need not only to understand the technology available to them, but to be able to use new technologies to create something original.

She earned her BS in elementary education and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Instructional Media. She became Nationally Board Certified in Early Adolescent Science in 2009. Dianne is in the process of becoming a national trainer for the Virginia Demonstration Project (VDP). The VDP model joins scientists and engineers from the Department of Defense with classroom teachers. Together, they work to engage students in robotics challenges. The mission of VDP is to educate students about and develop student interest in entering STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers. She has worked on developing this project, which is sponsored by the Office of Naval Research and is assisted by the College of William and Mary, for the past 5 years. Initially a project which involved only select Virginia students and teachers; it has become a national model.

In 2007, the Virginia Chapter of the American Chemical Society awarded her their Distinguished Middle School Science Teaching Award. For each of three years, she earned honors from Prince William County's Litter Control Council's Ecology Club of the Year Award program. Her work with students was recognized in 2001 by UPN 20 "Teachers Making a Difference" campaign.

She and her students were featured in the Prince William County's news program "School Focus" for her work in creating a student-directed energy savings program at her school, which saved the school $12,000 in the 1997-1998 school year alone. Her work with a global project involving students in Burkina Faso has been reported in various print media including the Washington Post.

In 1999, she escorted 32 middle school students for a two-week archeological trip through Utah, Wyoming and Montana. She has been credited with creating a successful Saturday Science program at her elementary school and currently runs a middle-school science club in a joint effort with a Mary Washington University professor.