Science teacher grant go-getter

A Charleroi Area Middle School teacher is bringing excitement to his classroom through grant money.

During 20 years as a science teacher at the middle school, Howard Johnson has submitted more than 60 grant applications and received nearly 50 awards.

The grants are sought with a goal of taking his teaching efforts outside the classroom to give students real-world experiences.

The first grant this year, through the Charleroi Area School District Education Foundation, for $1,200, was awarded in September.

Johnson said it was used for bus transportation to five area streams as part of a stewardship program.

“Funding is so tight in schools,” Johnson said. “This pays for 12 buses to take 12 visits for my students.”

Each year, Johnson teaches 120 students.

About 25 can go on each visit to the streams, where they use top-of-the-line equipment to test water in the Monongahela Watershed.

The students collect data and share it with the Washington County Preservation District.

Using surveying equipment purchased with a $25,000 grant last school year, the students determine erosion levels.

Johnson said the work began two years ago after he discovered local programs were not in place to test water in streams. “It is quite the project to undertake,” Johnson said. “Kids are doing things in seventh and eighth grade that they normally wouldn’t experience until college. There is not another district that does this.” Johnson said the grant had to be used in a project that was electronically influenced and decided to build sensors used in water testing.

He said the sensors can determine depth, temperature and conductivity.

“I wanted (us) to build the sensors ourselves to give the kids a sense of appreciation,” he said.

Johnson enjoys his nontraditional approach.

“I teach life science,” Johnson said. “When you have that stuff in your books, it is different than when you can say to the kids we are going to the stream.

“I teach them before we leave the room, and they implement what they learn outside of the classroom.”

Ecosystem

Students work in a garden on the middle school property.

Using grant money obtained over the past 10 years, Johnson helped the students create an outdoor ecosystem on a 1-acre site that features a greenhouse, pond, walking trails and composting facility. Instead of talking about plants, Johnson’s students experience planting and harvesting.

“You get to experience the excitement of (the students) doing something for the first time,” Johnson said. “Every student is involved in one way, shape or form.”

He said students are able to learn from books and apply the knowledge to real life.

“When they can get involved with the outdoor aspect, it makes it more real,” he said.

In January, Johnson received a $1,000 farm-to-table grant that will be used to update the outdoor facilities. On Friday, Joe Carone delivered $538 to the middle school so he could congratulate Johnson and see the students’ work.

Carone owns several Mc-Donald’s restaurants, including the site in Charleroi.

The MAC grant from Mc-Donald’s will be used to purchase Flamingos, a program associated with Lego Robotics.

“This will be used to train kids in the first phase of programming,” Johnson explained.

Johnson said without support from Carone, projects in and out of the classroom would not be possible.

Middle School Principal Adam Brewer said he is fortunate to have an inspiring teacher like Johnson.

“It is cool seeing what they can do,” Brewer said of the students. “We actually end up learning a lot from them.” Brewer said Johnson’s teaching methods have allowed at-risk children to become excited about learning. Johnson is waiting to hear about a $20,000 Whole Foods grant. The winner is expected to be announced Feb. 12.