Morgan County High School sweeps Science Awards

Two Morgan County High School (MCHS) Science teachers and one student won awards for their impressive feats in science education in the annual 2023 Georgia Science Teacher Association awards.

MCHS Science Teachers David Kramer and Alec Johnson won awards while Presley Hill, a MCHS student, won a $1,000 scholarship to the STEM school program of her choice.

Alec Johnson won the High School Teacher of the Year award, which honors the best high school science teacher in all of Georgia.

“He teaches Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy at MCHS, and also serves as the coordinator for science for the school district. He has collaborated with organizations like NASA and SETI to bring real-world science and experiences into his classroom to help students succeed in science,” said a statement from the GTSA.

“There are a lot of amazing things happening in science education around our schools. I am thankful to be honored by this award alongside Mr. Kramer and Ms. Hill, and enjoy working alongside all the amazing educators in our county to keep science education evolving and improving for our students,” said Johnson.

David Kramer won the High School Teacher of Promise award, being recognized as the best high school teacher with under three years in the profession.

“As his curriculum partner, I have seen first hand his expertise and passion for teaching science. He has pushed me, and others in our school, to find and implement unique instructional practices that we may not have tried without him, which have led to huge gains in achievement and engagement for our students,” said Johnson. “ I would have loved to be in his class in high school, and am proud of his achievement.”

Johnson also taught Presley for multiple years in Physics and Astronomy.

“She is a fantastic student and person, which is why I nominated her. She’s going to do amazing things as a young woman in STEM.”

Morgan County’s Superintendent Dr. Virgil Cole and MCHS Principal Dr. Miki Edwards were thrilled to have three science award recipients at MCHS this year.

“As the superintendent and as a parent, I’ve seen first-hand the outstanding work our high school teachers and students do on a day-to-day basis,” said Dr. Cole. “This is particularly true in our science department, and Mr. Johnson and Mr. Kramer, including student Presley Hill, exemplify the best. We’re super proud of them, and this is another example of what makes our system special.”

“We are fortunate to have teachers like Mr. Johnson and Mr. Kramer who are so dedicated to their craft. They are purposeful about improving their methods and that commitment certainly impacts their students,” said Dr. Edwards. “ It is exciting to see a student of Presley’s caliber plan to take the things that she has learned — both in and out of the classroom — and expand and apply them in the field of science. We will certainly be proud to say that her high school years were spent with us here at Morgan County High School.”

The annual GSTA Awards and Grants recognize excellence and innovation in Georgia science education and serves to raise awareness and exposure of the outstanding work being done in our state. The GSTA Awards Program is supported by member donations, the Georgia Science Teachers Education Foundation, and generous sponsors. GSTA Awards and Grants help support the science educators and their science educational programs, professional development and proactive efforts in the science education.