Shell Foundation Minority Teaching Fellowship

The Shell Foundation generously funded another summer of Minority Teaching Fellowships at the DISL.  Fellows this year were Deborah Harper, a teacher from Midfield, AL; Diarra Blue, a student at Tuskegee University; and Sharron Rivers, a teacher at J. O. Johnson High School in Huntsville, AL.  The purpose of this experience is to give minority educators and students exposure to new teaching methods and developments in science education.

Deborah Harper is determined to teach what she has learned at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab to her colleagues as well.  With this experience, "I will participate more in service presentations," says Harper, "and bring what I learned to a professional workshop for my peers."

Sharron Rivers add, "The internship reinforced the importance that the environment needs to be valued and taken care of."  When Rivers returns to her school this fall, she plans to place more emphasis on oceanography and teaching dynamic earth science to include marine wildlife.

As a counselor, an educator and a tour guide, Diarra Blue has completed his duties with enthusiasm.  He demonstrated continually his eagerness to learn and pitch in.  "One of the biggest things I've done down here is just help - every little bit counts." says Blue.  After finishing his internship at the Sea Lab, Blue plans on continuing his education in animal science at Tuskegee University to attain his Degree of Veterinary Medicine.

Contributed by John Clark, DISL Public Relations Intern, 2005.