Neighbors

Basha High science teacher Arizona’s best

BY KEVIN REAGAN

Staff Writer

A Basha High School teacher has recently been recognized as one of Arizona’s best biology educators.

Katherine Nall, who’s been teaching biology and environmental science in Chandler for 15 years, was recently selected by the National Association of Biology Teachers as the state’s top science teacher in 2021.

Nall, who was nominated by a colleague, will represent Arizona among the organization’s class of national recipients.

She will be recognized later this year at the association’s national conference in Georgia, where she’ll receive a gift certificate to purchase science supplies and a complimentary one-year membership to NABT.

Nall said it was especially rewarding to be recognized at the end of a difficult year, which forced teachers to figure out how to continue teaching during a global pandemic.

“It’s been a rough year,” Nall said. “So, to get good news like this at the end, kind of lets you know you’re doing it all right.”

As a teacher who enjoys having her students learn through hands-on activities, Nall has struggled this past year deciphering how to safely continue teaching while maintaining social distancing.

The first quarter of this school year was the most challenging, Nall recalled, since teachers were forced to teach virtually.

The ordeal ended up being a valuable learning experience for Nall, who has already begun to evaluate how she can adapt her teaching style to conform to a digital-friendly format.

“If I had to do virtual again,” she noted, “I would do it completely different than how I did first quarter.”

Nall is often asking questions, analyzing her actions and making logical adjustments – a habit she strives to pass on to her students each year.

Her inquiry-based approach to teaching attempts to get students curious about the natural world and thinking about how to solve real problems.

“My hope is that I can teach them skills that they can carry on into whatever they do,” Nall said.

A transplant from Michigan, Nall originally had ambitions to attend medical school and become a pediatrician.

But once she realized that chemistry was not her best subject, Nall discovered she could focus exclusively on biology by becoming a teacher.

After she immersed herself in education, Nall said everything seemed to click and her career pathway suddenly looked clearer.

Her favorite aspect of teaching is getting to see students make discoveries as they conduct experiments. There’s not much engagement happening outside the laboratory, Nall said, so her classroom time tends to prioritize hands-on work.

“I personally get bored when I have to lecture and give notes,” Nall added. “I prefer to teach by doing.”

Nall’s students have the opportunity to learn about a variety of topics that range from agriculture to water pollution.

A popular topic has always been Nall’s unit on antibiotics and the classroom lab that allows students to experiment with bacteria.

Nall teaches the class how E. coli grows and lets them expose strains of the bacteria to different antibiotics to see how the bacteria become resistant against the medicine.

Nall said her students always enjoy observing how the bacteria react to the antibiotics and learning how the process relates to the development of modern pharmaceuticals.

“It’s one of their favorite labs that they do throughout the year because it’s so real,” she said. “I’m not afraid to let them work with bacteria.”

When Nall isn’t in the classroom, she’s taking on extra duties by coaching sports, spearheading Basha’s environmental club and overseeing the school’s science fair.

NABT has been singling out remarkable science teachers across the country since 1961 by selecting candidates who embody innovative, collaborative qualities in the classroom.

Nall’s dedication to molding analytical, inquisitive minds stood out to NABT as an attribute that helped her nomination rise above the association’s other applicants.

Daryn Stover, the association’s Arizona representative, noted how Nall was the right candidate for demonstrating the values of an impactful science educator.

“Nall’s engagement with students through inquiry-based learning is impressive, as is her commitment to staying at the forefront of advances in science pedagogy,” said Stover. “We are pleased to recognize her years of service to biology education and student success with this award.”

Katherine Nall

Chandler girl gets to flex her ‘CEO’ muscles

BY SYDNEY MACKIE

Staff Writer

Not every kid may dream of becoming a CEO some day, but 11-year-old Indigo Chai of Chandler actually won the opportunity to do so at the Crayola Experience last month.

Indigo won the title of “chief experience officer” last year with a convincing video resume and was invited to tour the Crayola store near the Chandler Fashion Center when the mall reopened last year to provide kid-expert feedback to the company. Indigo’s father found the application in a Chandler magazine and her family encouraged her to apply. He noted his daughter has always been drawn to creative endeavors and had many captivating ideas for the Crayola brand.

“It was definitely a whirlwind of emotions. It was just me and my parents at the house and it was kind of coincidental because they are an arts and crafts brand and we were just settling down to do a craft together, we didn’t expect the call to come,” Indigo said. “It was a lot of happiness for sure. It was overwhelming and it kind of felt unreal.”

Indigo’s day at the Crayola Experience began with a store-wide welcome at 9 a.m. followed by a staff briefing.

Then she officially opened the store for the day before listening to presentations about the company’s attractions and merchandise development process. Finally, she toured and assessed the facility and storefront before an audience of about 300 people.

Chai had visited the store twice before the event and said she “really loved the idea of a place that was centered all-around creativity.”

She also got to present her own idea for a Crayola Experience attraction: how to take the popular Scribble Scribbles attraction to the next level with activities and layouts that would bring awareness to animal rescue and conservation.

She also selected her favorite offerings, which will be labeled as “Kid CEO approved items” until July 31.

“Personally, the plushies I really like because they were really cute and they had a wide spectrum and Wrap it Up!, which is a crayon exhibit where you get to customize your own crayon label,” Indigo said.

“It was really cool because you get to add emotion. Another one of my favorite parts is the Model Magic exhibit where you get to pick clay from vending machines and they have a whole bunch of different colors.”

Indigo also renamed the crayon color aquamarine to “Clean Marine,” which will also be available for purchase until the end of July, and selected the store’s July craft theme before going on a $250 shopping spree awarded alongside her Kid CEO title.

“I think that I made an impact on the brand pretty well and I definitely want to do more with them. I think they’re a really awesome brand that’s doing really well and I’m proud to be a part of it,” Indigo said.

Indigo Chai of Chandler got a big kick out of her role as chief experience officer at the Crayola Experience store near Chandler Fashion Center.

(Courtesy of Crayola)

Tarwater students to chat with astronauts in space

BY SYDNEY MACKIE

Staff Writer

Tarwater Elementary students will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity this October to converse with astronauts currently in orbit.

The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station program picked Tarwater as one of only seven schools in the nation – and the only one in Arizona – to ask questions of the crew aboard the International Space Station in a 20-minute broadcast.

Tarwater Principal, Diane Hale said each grade will utilize their knowledge in scientific questioning to determine the most worthwhile inquiries for the astronauts. Then the school will select one question per grade level.

“We’ve been talking a lot about good questions and learning a lot about what questions maybe we could find out by researching versus the questions we really need to ask,” Hale said.

The broadcast is made possible with the use of ham radio equipment as well as a passionate team of parents and staff.

The program itself was brought to Hale’s attention in 2019 by a parent with an interest in such technology.

“Being part of the ham radio community, he was aware of this, so he approached me to see if this would be something we would be interested in doing,” Hale explained.

“He saw that the proposal was posted and that applications were due soon, so we worked with him to learn a little bit more about it, then we jumped on the opportunity.”

In December, the school submitted its first application and was approved in January 2020 to have contact with the Space Station in August or September of last year.

But the pandemic forced Tarwater to shut down its campus at that time, so the school pulled its application.

“We had no idea if we would be in session. We knew many families were choosing online, some were choosing to homeschool at that point and there was so much else to worry about that we just canceled,”

Hale said.

She said the parent “encouraged us to apply again and so we did.”

Tarwater got picked again, this time scheduling the transmission for the last week of October.

The school has made it a priority to integrate the program into each grade’s curriculum and instruction. “Tarwater students will learn about space communications including satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio science through exploration of amateur radio,” according to a release from the program.

Amateur radio organizations around the world with the support of NASA and space agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe present educational organizations with this opportunity.

The ham radio organizations’ volunteer efforts provide the equipment and operational support to enable communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world using amateur radio.

“The goal of the program is to teach students more about radio science and increase the student interest in STEM careers and one of our goals as a school is to promote global citizenship and the idea that we are all a part of the big world,” Hale said.

“With this being an international space station, the idea and symbolism that all these countries are coming together to do science just fit so perfectly.”

Tarwater Elementary is also hoping to plan a night beneath the stars for the excited parents, students and teachers in October prior to the broadcast. The local community will be encouraged to attend with a telescope and discuss space and science.

“I think anytime you can give kids a real-life experience, they start to see careers, they start to see possibilities,” Hale said.

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station will chat with Tarwater Elementary students via amateur radio in October.

(Special to SanTan Sun News)

Tempe Union salutes Chandler teen for her work

SANTAN SUN NEWS

On the night before she graduated from Mountain Pointe High School May 20, Shayla Mackenzie of Chandler was saluted by Superintendent Dr. Kevin Mendivil at the Tempe Union Governing Board meeting.

Shayla received the CTE Film and TV Student of the Year award and also won best screenplay at this year’s Tempe Union High School District Film Festival.

Mendivil said that while interning in Tempe Union’s district community relations department, Shayla “played a vital role in the filming of Marcos and Mountain Pointe promotional videos and streaming governing board meetings, all city award ceremonies and school performances.”

Bound for the Arizona State University’s Cronkite School of Journalism, Shayla worked with Warren Cole, the district’s multimedia specialist and videographer.

The daughter of Samantha Cunningham and Sean McKenzie, she helped edit and live-stream various events for all seven district high schools while helping to develop promotional films for Mountain Pointe and Marcos de Niza high schools.

“As the semester progressed and we were able to go back to school in person again, I acted as production assistant for Mr. Cole,” she said.

“This included setting up lights, slating a scene, and working audio at times. I then was able to move into directing and helped him with the promotion videos for Marcos De Niza and Mountain Pointe.”

She said she is especially proud of a short film she made this year with the help her classmate and friend Zoe McCollum. That film won the best screenplay award.

“I’m most proud of this because it helped me prove to myself that I have the potential to be a great writer and

could give an audience something to enjoy,” she said. That also bolstered her long-term career hopes of becoming a director and screenwriter.

“I know it’s a tough business to get into and there’s a lot of competition, so winning the award gave me a much-needed confidence boost in my writing capabilities,” Shayla said.

The internship averaged two to five hours of work a week.

Since hers was a new position, she said Cole and she “were not really sure what to start with,” although “as the semester progressed, we both got more of an idea of how things were going to go especially when shooting the promotional videos.”

At the Cronkite School she is aiming for bachelor’s degrees in both broadcast journalism and TV/film production.

“I’d eventually like to get my masters in both fields as well – but baby steps,”

she said. Her dream job “has always been Marvel Studios or a big streaming company like Netflix.”

But, she added, “It’s always good to have a backup plan though, so if the whole Hollywood thing doesn’t work out, I’d love to be a producer for a news station in New York or Seattle.”

“Movies and entertainment have always been a passion of mine since I was little,” she explained. “My mom would take me to the theater to see one of the new Marvel movies with my broth-

“When I got into high school and was able to start taking film and TV classes, we worked on a journalism unit and I fell in love with that as well.

I guess production, whether it be for a school broadcast or a short film, has always been a part of me and they always say turn what you love into your career.” – Shayla Mackenzie

Sun Lakes’ Mary Ernst saluted by mayor

BY JENNIFER GUSTAFSON

Guest Writer

Sun Lakes resident Mary Ernst was recently honored by Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke for her service to local seniors as a volunteer with Neighbors Who Care.

Hartke personally selected her for the Mayor’s Choice Award as part of the city’s annual Volunteer Recognition Program.

Mary was presented with the award in a surprise visit from Victor Hardy, executive director of For Our City Chandler, an organization that works in conjunction with the City of Chandler to serve our community through collaboration and compassion.

Mary has been volunteering with Sun Lakes-based Neighbors Who Care since 2017. She off ers her services as a volunteer driver several times a month and has given nearly 400 hours of her time.

Mary is always eager to help our clients who are predominantly homebound seniors in Sun Lakes/South Chandler. These clients often have no one else nearby to help them, so volunteers like Mary are essential to helping them stay in their own homes for as long as feasibly possible.

Of the many services that volunteers provide, Mary says she prefers taking on long-distance driving assignments because she knows that not every volunteer is able to drive to locations like Downtown Phoenix or the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. She said she also enjoys the time she gets to spend with Neighbors Who Care clients and helping to bring some joy to their lives. One such client, a 95-yearold Chandler resident, said she was feeling anxious about an upcoming medical appointment but that “my funky mood was turned around by Mary when she was taking me to see the doctor. “She was extremely friendly and positive. She listened to me and helped me feel so much better about my situation. And, it turns out that she was right…I had nothing to worry about,” the client said.

Neighbors Who Care Administrative Director Verna Mahnke said, “You can tell that Mary enjoys visiting with clients during their drives together. She just loves being with people!”

On behalf of all of us at Neighbors Who Care, we would like to thank Mary Ernst for her dedication and for being a shining light in our community.

We would also like to thank our friends at the City of Chandler, including Mayor Hartke and Councilmember Christine Ellis for continuing to support our mission to serve seniors in our area.

Volunteers are needed now more than ever as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. We appreciate any time you can give, whether it’s once a week or once a month. We work around your schedule and there are a variety of services to choose from, all of which can be done with safety in mind.

See our website at neighborswhocare.com/volunteer or contact Jennifer at jennifer@neighborswhocarecom or 480-895-7133.

Jennifer Gustafson is community engagement manager for Neighbors Who Care.

Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke praised Sun Lakes’ Mary Ernst. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

SHAYLA from page 37

ers. I knew I wanted to be on set and see how the behind the scenes worked.”

Turns out her internship did just that.

“When I got into high school and was able to start taking fi lm and TV classes, we worked on a journalism unit and I fell in love with that as well. I guess production, whether it be for a school broadcast or a short fi lm, has always been a part of me and they always say turn what you love into your career.”

The internship also taught her “the ability to adapt,” she said.

“Being able to think on the fl y when something goes wrong is a crucial part of pursuing a career in any type of production fi eld,” Shayla explained. “Learning early on that when the pressure is applied and deadlines are approaching faster and faster, fi nding a way to make it work out is key – especially with all the stress that comes with it.

“But it’s honestly a thrill,” she said. “I think better on my feet and under pressure. So, thanks to Mr. Cole and having taken Mrs. Idler’s fi lm/TV classes, I’ve learned to handle stress well and, again, adapt.”

Shayla in the past has played junior varsity soccer for fun and was a member of Mountain Pointe’s Key Club and the Rho Kappa Honors Society for social studies.

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Left: Hamilton High student Aris Zhu is fl anked by Hamilton Principal Mike De La Torre, left, and Sun Lakes Rotary Club President Jon Lyons as she receives one of the club’s scholarships. Right: Galveston Elementary teacher Rose Marie Bogue is fl anked by Sun Lakes Rotary Education Chair Don Robins, left, and club President Jon Lyons as she shows off her

Teacher of the Month recognition. (Courtesy of the Sun Lakes Rotary Club)

Sun Lakes Rotary honors teacher, students

SANTAN SUN NEWS

Sun Lakes Rotary Club has been busy lately, awarding scholarships and honoring a Galveston Elementary Teacher.

The club’s May Teacher of the Month Award went to Rose Marie Bogue, who teaches third grade at Galveston.

“Rose Marie has been a teacher for over 37 years, 13 of which have been at Galveston Elementary,” said club publicist Dr. Honora A. Norton.

“Additionally, she is an English language development program specialist. Rose Marie earned her bachelor’s degree in 1984 at California’s Azusa Pacifi c University; and, in 1987 her master’s degree from California’s Cal State San Bernardino.”

The award selection is based on a number of factors, including a teacher’s total years of service in education; examples of how the teacher goes above the normal requirements and enhances education; the respect shown for the teacher by peers, students and parents; and the teacher’s involvement in extracurricular activities and service in the community.

A $500 check is awarded to the honored teacher – $200 from the Sun Lakes Rotary Club, $200 from Earnhardt Automotive Center and $100 from Trust Bank.

Meanwhile, the club also awarded scholarships to three newly minted high school graduates.

Hamilton High School’s Aris Ahu and Casteel High student Lily Grace won the Sun Lakes Rotary’s 2021 Service Above Self Scholarships.

Lily is considering political science studies and Aris has his eye on a career in information technology studies.

The club’s 2021 Vocational Scholarship was awarded to Adrianna Camacho, Chandler High School, who is considering nursing studies. The $2,000 scholarships will be sent directly to the school that the winners will be attending this fall, Norton said.

A panel of judges reviewed and scored applications from area high school seniors.

Each application included a 300word essay, which provided the student’s beliefs and understanding of what “service above self” means; teacher recommendations; and, student academic standing data.

Also factoring in are each student’s exhibiting exemplary acts of service and character.

Sun Lakes Rotary Club, chartered in 1986 with Rotary International, is a community leadership organization made up of men and women from local businesses, professional, education, civic and emerging leaders. Rotary International has over 35,000 member clubs worldwide, with a membership of 1.2 million individuals, known as Rotarians.

Sun Lakes Rotary holds Tuesday weekly hybrid (Zoom and Palo Verde Country Club) Tuesdays for its more than 80 members.

Among the projects supported by Sun Lakes Rotary are education through schools in the Chandler Unifi ed School District literacy through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and water access and sustainability through the Navajo Nation Water Project.

Information: sunlakesrotary.com or facebook.com/groups/SunLakesRotaryClub.

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