Home » HES teacher Helen Corveleyn recipient of President Biden’s award for Excellence in Math and Science teaching

HES teacher Helen Corveleyn recipient of President Biden’s award for Excellence in Math and Science teaching

by Community Contributor

The following email was recently sent to Hopewell Elementary School families:

A big congratulations to Mrs. Corveleyn on being a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching! 

Since joining the Hopewell Elementary staff, she has shared her extensive knowledge/background and genuine enthusiasm which is contagious among all around her. Helen is to be commended for her extraordinary ability to forge genuine relationships and build support for initiatives. She has secured multiple grants from various organizations exceeding $20,000, including Sustainable Jersey for Schools/New Jersey Education Association, BASF, Hopewell Valley Education Foundation and Hopewell Elementary PTO.  The majority of these grants have permitted our school to launch a vertical farming initiative and expand upon our outdoor gardens which support our sustainability efforts by incorporating our own vegetables/herbs in the cafeteria through a partnership with Princeton University which she forged. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture recognized Helen’s efforts and successes two years ago when naming our school the Best Farm to School program in the state of New Jersey. Furthermore, she collaborates with teachers at each grade level to utilize our gardens to develop and co-teach meaningful and engaging lessons that are aligned to Next Generation Science Standards. 

Even prior to the pandemic, Helen had the foresight to embrace outdoor education as evidenced by the aforementioned paragraph. She is currently working with local organizations and community members to expand our outdoor learning spaces. The first two phases, an installation of an outdoor yoga area and Nature Harmony Project Infinity Garden, have been completed.Helen recognizes the significance of nurturing young female scientists in a field where there is significant underrepresentation. She has conceived, coordinated and hosted lunch and learn sessions for our female students featuring women of various backgrounds within the STEM industry. Sessions have included an environmental engineer who used drone technology to monitor remediation sites, a college physics major who promoted women in physics, a public health physician who worked in eradicating tuberculosis in foreign nations, a neuroscience major who discussed brain research and a cell biologist who taught DNA and immunotherapy in cancer research. These sessions were very well attended, engaging and truly life changing.

Helen’s ability to collaborate with colleagues is especially noteworthy. She is well respected, patient and always supportive through her words and actions. Helen truly models respect in each and every interaction. Consequently, the extent of buy-in among staff is unparalleled. Furthermore, her rapport with parents is exceptional. Our parent community cherishes Helen’s leadership, innovation and dedication.

Click here for the White House’s official press release.
Please join me in congratulating Mrs. Corveleyn on this well-deserved award.

Sincerely,
David Friedrich
HES Principal

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