Earth Science Teacher of the Year Award

2025 Recipients of the K-12 Earth and Environmental Science Teacher of the Year Award: Kirsten Johnson Nesbitt and Nadene Klein

The RMAG Foundation and RMAG are very pleased to announce the 2025 Earth Science Teacher of the Year Awardees! The finalist is Kirsten Johnson Nesbitt, Middle School Science Teacher at STEM Lab K-8 Magnet School, Adams 12 School District. Ms. Nesbitt will receive $2000 to further their professional development, and the science department at her school will receive $2000 to be used to support their earth science programs.

Ms. Nesbitt demonstrated excellence in her approach to teaching students and her passion for earth science. Ms. Nesbitt is a long-time science teacher with 16 years of experience in both middle school and high school.

Kirsten Johnson Nesbitt: Ms. Nesbitt teaches 6^th and 8^th grade science at STEM Lab K-8 Magnet school in the Adams 12 school district. She describes her teaching philosophy as “grounded in the belief that active, experiential learning is essential to preparing students to be informed citizens, stewards of natural resources, and thoughtful participants in conversations about the planet’s future.” She utilizes problem-based learning, a hands-on investigative and inclusive instructional method, to bring real-world projects to the classroom. One project utilized the US-36 road collapse where the student investigated the roadbed failure due to slope instability and ground water saturation. The students explored various geological processes such as erosion, weathering, soil mechanics and infrastructure design and then met with geological and civil engineering professions rebuilding the embankment. Her classroom goal is to highlight the many career paths within the geosciences and STEM allowing the students to “build their scientific identity and see how geoscience connects directly to their communities, their futures, and the changing world around them.” She plans on using her award to acquire soil testing kits, stream table, and thermal imaging tools to enhance the classroom engineering-geology projects.

Andrea Overton, Assistant Principal STEM Lab School, states “ Kirsten’s commitment to geoscience stems from a lifelong passion nurtured through early family influence and deepened by professional fieldwork, including collaborations with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.” Ms. Overton’s final statement sums up Ms. Nesbitt’s succinctly, “Kirsten Johnson Nesbitt is a truly exceptional educator. She is the kind of teacher who changes lives, turning curiosity into confidence and planting the seeds of future scientists, engineers, and environmental stewards.”

Ms. Nesbitt credits her grandfather, W. Bruce Mackenzie, a geologist for the Climax Mine, for her interest in geology. She remembers many stories about his travels and his love of rocks. She also volunteered on several paleontological digs with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

The RMAG Foundation also recognized Nadene Klein with a monetary award of $500 and her science department with $500. We were very impressed with the work Ms. Klein is doing at Daniel C. Oakes HS in Castle Rock and wanted to reward her hard work.

Nadene Klein: Ms. Klein is a 28-year science teacher at Daniel C. Oakes High School in Castle Rock. This high school is an alternative school for at-risk youth within the Douglas County school district. She utilizes Project Based Learning to provide interactive and personalized learning for students that have gaps in their education and limits to their readiness to learning. She states her priority to her students include “understanding their impact on nature, the balance of ecosystems, and understanding geosciences, weather, and climate.” Her goal is to have her students recognize their interconnectedness to the planet.

Brian Singleton, D.C. Oakes High School Principal, states “What truly sets Mrs. Klein apart is her remarkable ability to create a vibrant and immersive learning environment that effortlessly brings complex scientific concepts to life.”.

RMAG Foundation’s mission is to support geoscience educators and students at all levels. Ms. Nesbitt embodies the dedication, innovation and passion for geoscience that can ignite a curiosity for science among their students. Her innovative teaching methods are inspiring the next generation of geoscientists and we are pleased to honor her with this award. We are also pleased to reward Mrs. Klein for her work with at-risk students. Both teachers will be recognized at the August 6^th RMAG Luncheon meeting at the Denver Energy Resource Library and will be given a one-year membership to RMAG, funded by RMAG Foundation. Congratulations to both Ms. Nesbitt and Mrs. Klein.

Both teachers will be recognized at the August 7 RMAG luncheon meeting and given a complimentary one-year membership in the RMAG funded by the RMAG Foundation. Congratulations!

Recent Recipients of the Earth Science Teacher of the Year Award

2024	Kent Hups, Northglenn High School, Northglenn, CO Hannah Winters, Performing Arts School on Broadway, Mapleton Public Schools, Denver, CO
2023	Dr. Yajaira Fuentes-Tauber, Rocky Mountain High School, Fort Collins, CO Shirley Davis, Windsor Charter Academy Early College High School, Windsor, CO
2022	Lisa Taylor, Bethlehem Lutheran School, Lakewood, CO
2021	Tricia Kearns, Webber Middle School, Ft. Collins, CO
2020	Matt Thomas, Alameda International High School, Lakewood, CO Merideth Sparks, Craver Middle School, Colorado City, CO
2018	Matthew Sturdivant, Colorado Early Colleges, Fort Collins, CO
2017	Deborah Munson, Platteville Elementary School, Platteville, CO
2016	Julie Mitchell Erie, High School, Erie, CO
2015	Kent Hups, Northglenn STEM High School, Northglenn, CO

In 2000, the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists (RMAG) Foundation instituted a joint award with the RMAG to honor an elementary or secondary school teacher who has promoted teaching of Earth Science to K-12 students in Colorado. The awardee receives a commemorative plaque and a $2000 cash award provided by the RMAG Foundation. The RMAG Foundation also awards the awardee’s school with $2000 designated for its Earth Science program.

The applicant must have a proven record in teaching at an accredited K-12 school in Colorado.

The application package includes four required items:

Completion of the application form including dated signatures from applicant and school administrator
A summary of the course curriculum including:
- Earth Science Teaching Philosophy
- Description of your Earth Science course
- How you and your school will use the award
One letter of recommendation from a school administrator.
One letter of recommendation from a colleague or parent of a student in your class.