EOU educator earns state honor for work with science teachers

By Dick Mason
The La Grande Observer

Published: Sept. 24, 2003

 

EOU natural resource specialist Donna Rainboth received a state-wide science award recently.

La Grande -- Donna Rainboth never me the late Duane Marshall, a revered science teacher at Newberg High School.

Rainboth, however, is adding to Marshall's legacy.

Rainboth, a Cove resident, has received a noteworthy award from the Oregon Science Teachers Association. It is the OSTA's Duane Marshall Special Service to Science Education award.

The honor recognizes the work Rainboth is doing as a science methods teacher at Eastern Oregon University.

"I am pretty surprised. This is exciting," Rainboth said. "Rainboth helps prepare EOU education students to teach science. She also conducts workshops for teachers to help them develop better methods for teaching science in the classroom.

Those who have worked closely with Rainboth include SueAnn Bottoms of Corvallis, a past OSTA president and its awards chairperson. Bottoms got to know Rainboth well while working as a teacher in Elgin and Ukiah.

"Whether you are in a large group or a small one she makes everyone feel that their needs are being addressed," Bottoms said.

Bottoms added that Rainboth has an uncanny knack for knowing how to help teachers.

"She is a delight to work with and anticipates what your needs are," Bottoms said.

Rainboth has worked at EOU for 8½ years. During this time she has helped many EOU students develop the skills needed to become effective science teachers. Many education students, especially those preparing to become grade school teachers, are leery of teaching science. This is because many don't have good science backgrounds, Rainboth said.

To see these future teachers develop an aptitude for science education is fulfilling.

"I enjoy our students at Eastern," Rainboth said.

She believes it is critical that students are actively involved in science. This can involve everything from measuring the water quality or streams to making electronic circuits.

"It is important to let kids get their hands dirty rather than spending a lot of time reading text books. They need to do their own investigations and learn to think critically about their world," said Rainboth, a graduate of Oregon State University.

She encourages teachers to do things like get a series of animal skulls and have children examine their teeth. They then are asked to determine what the animals eat based on the type of teeth they have.

Rainboth taught high school and junior high science in North Bend and Venezuela. Carol Lauritzen, an education professor at EOU, noted that Rainboth is able to address people across a wide spectrum.

"She is as comfortable teaching a 6-year-old as she is serving on national (science education) advisory boards," Lauritzen said.

Lauritzen said that Rainboth is an excellent role model for teachers because she continues to improve her overall science knowledge. This impresses teachers, for it shows that they too can continue to learn and expand their methods for helping students learn about science, Lauritzen said.

Rainboth with receive her award at the 45th annual Oregon Science Teachers Association conference on Oct. 10 in Bend.

Contact Information

University Advancement Eastern Oregon University One University Boulevard La Grande, OR 97850 phone 541.962.3740 fax 541.962.3680 email University Advancement