Darcie Fregoe to Receive AGI's Roy Award for Excellence in K-8 Earth Science Teaching

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ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Darcie Fregoe, a sixth-grade Earth science and social studies teacher at Madison Elementary School in Massena, New York, has been named the 2021 recipient of the Edward C. Roy Jr. Award for Excellence in K-8 Earth Science Teaching.

 
Fregoe earned a bachelor's degrees in education from State University of New York (SUNY) at Plattsburgh, a master's degree in education from SUNY Potsdam, and a NASA Endeavor Science Teacher Certificate Project Fellowship at Columbia Teacher's College. In her 31 years as an educator, Fregoe has received recognitions including the National Wildlife Federation's Eco-Schools Green Flag Award, a FIRST Scholarship to FIRST/U.S. Air Force Academy Leadership Training, an Alcoa Foundation Award to Keystone Science Institute, and New York State Educator of the Week.
 
Fregoe has spent the past two decades teaching sixth-grade Earth science, focusing on topics underscored by the New York State Middle Level Science Learning Standards such as Earth's systems, history, weather and climate, human impacts, and space. Drawing on technology and emphasizing project-based and problem-based learning, she makes cross-curricular connections with what students are learning in mathematics, English language arts, and history. In addition to serving on numerous committees, coaching and advising students, and mentoring fellow educators, she has published research on reflective journaling in the science classroom.
 
"Darcie Fregoe is the sort of Earth science educator that every young person should have," said Sharon Tahirkheli, Interim Executive Director of the American Geosciences Institute. "Noted for the passion and excitement she brings to instruction, she leads her students in hands-on investigations and projects in their school, local community, and the wider world, engaging their curiosity and varied talents."
 
Fregoe will receive the award in April at the National Earth Science Teachers Association (NESTA) Friends of Earth Science Reception during the 2021 National Science Teaching Association Conference. This year's finalists were Caroline Little of Visitation School in Mendota Heights, Minnesota, and Martha McLeod of Fulton Learning Center in Rockport, Texas.
 
Given annually, AGI's Edward C. Roy Jr. Award recognizes one classroom teacher from kindergarten to eighth grade for leadership and innovation in Earth science education. The award is named in honor of Dr. Edward C. Roy Jr., who was a strong and dedicated supporter of Earth science education. To learn more, please see www.americangeosciences.org/education/awards/roy.
 
About AGI
The American Geosciences Institute (AGI), a federation of scientific and professional associations representing over a quarter-million geoscientists, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to serving the geoscience community and addressing the needs of society. AGI headquarters are in Alexandria, Virginia.
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AGI Contact:
Geoff Camphire, Communications