Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 23, 1995 TAG: 9511240023
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Science is not just for eggheads. And it's not that hard, if children don't get turned off by its vocabulary, Billie Reid says.
Reid tells teachers not to frighten students by burdening them too soon with the technical and theoretical aspects of science. She wants teachers to help children understand scientific principles and become comfortable with the subject before requiring them to learn all of the terminology.
Reid, science supervisor for Roanoke County schools, practices what she preaches.
When she visits elementary schools, she often takes puppets of butterflies and other animals with her as visual aids for talks to classes.
``That gets the children's attention. They never forget the puppets, and you teach them about science,'' she said.
The success of her teaching philosophy no doubt is one reason Reid was named Virginia's Science Educator of the Year for 1995.
Reid said she is somewhat embarrassed by the award, given by the Virginia Association of Science Teachers, because she never expected it.
``You do your work, and you don't expect to be rewarded for it,'' she said. ``It's really not a job, not a task. It's something I love doing, working with children.''
But those who work closely with Reid are not surprised that she won statewide recognition.
``She is an inspiration to us,'' said Garland Life, senior director of instruction for county schools. ``She has brought elementary science to life.''
Reid, 57, has seen enrollment and interest in science courses increase dramatically since she began teaching in the county 35 years ago. The first year that she taught at Cave Spring High, 95 students took chemistry. More than 350 are enrolled this year.
She expects the interest to keep growing because the state's new standards of learning will require that students take more science.
Reid spent 28 years in the classroom before before becoming the county's science supervisor seven years ago. After teaching eighth-grade math and science at the old Andrew Lewis High School her first year out of college, she taught chemistry at Cave Spring for 27 years. Several students she taught at Cave Spring now are teachers under her supervision.
She was reluctant to give up teaching when she was offered the supervisor's job, because she loved working with children so much.
``The first year after I took this post, something was missing. It was different than having your own group of kids,'' she said.
After teaching high school students for so many years, Reid has developed a fondness for elementary science, students and teachers.
``Elementary teachers have so much to do. They have to teach math, English and other subjects as well as science,'' she said. ``There is not enough money to pay kindergarten teachers and some other elementary teachers for what they do.''
Reid never planned to be a teacher when she was growing up in Roanoke. She expected to go to medical school and become a pathologist or a related medical specialist. She took all the science and math courses that were offered.
But her dream of a medical career ended when she was asked to help with an autopsy at a hospital where she had a summer job. She quickly realized that was not the kind of work for her.
Her Longwood College adviser suggested that she could use her science and math background to become a teacher. When she did her student teaching, she discovered that she loved working with children.
Reid also has a master's degree from Radford University and has done additional graduate work at Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia.
With computers and other technology, Reid said, children have more opportunities today, but some things don't change. ``They still need to be loved, given attention and taught to read.''
Reid said technology makes the world smaller and enables students to see the world outside their classroom, but it requires teachers and administrators to work harder to keep abreast of the changes.
``I laugh and tell my teachers that I feel like a dinosaur. I have to learn how to use these computers and equipment,'' she said.
She is married to Thomas Reid, a retired Roanoke police commander. Her second grandchild was born recently, and she proudly shows off a picture.
The county School Board recently recognized her for the state award, but she said the teachers really deserved it.
``We have great teachers. They make the system work. They love the children, and it shows,'' she said.
by CNB