Talley named Outstanding Earth Science Teacher

Congratulations to Crystal Talley for being recognized by The National Association of Geoscience Teachers as an “Outstanding Earth Science Teacher” for 2012.  Talley will receive a two-year complimentary membership in the National Association of Geoscience Teachers, one-year membership in the Geological Society of America’s Geoscience Education Division membership, an Earth Science Week Kit from the American Geological Institution and assorted publications from the US Geological Survey. Talley is a PACE participant and has been teaching at Code Academy for three years. She has worked extensively with Dr. John Wagner and Dr. Barbara Speziale through Clemson University’s SC Life program. Talley sought guidance from Clemson University in finding alternative methods to motivate and engage the youth population of Code Academy.  Through her vision of using the outdoors to reach students in a non-traditional manner, she has been able to captivate, motivate and inspire them. Devil’s Fork State Park has become an outdoor learning center where student volunteers and experts in diverse fields guide students in learning about global positioning systems, mapping, technology, endangered species, history of the park, and publication skills. Her students are working on a project that involves creating the first ever Oconee Bell guided trail map for the state park. The goal is to have the project completed by the end of the school year.