SUNDRE — A local science teacher’s passion for education combined with his commitment to his students’ success both in and out of the classroom recently earned him national recognition.
Ryan Beck, who teaches chemistry and physics at Sundre High School, received the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) 2020 Award for Excellence in Teaching High School in the Prairies and Northwest Territories.
“I set my heart on the CAP award in 2012 and worked at it since then because I see it as the highest honour a high school physics teacher can achieve,” Beck was quoted saying in a press release.
“It has been my goal to become a teacher worthy of this honour, because that is the minimum my amazing students deserve.”
The association cited among the reasons for recognizing Beck the educator’s efforts to present multiple opportunities to keep physics relevant and accessible to his students and getting them to apply physics in the wider world.
“Ryan is deserving of recognition for his tireless efforts in promoting physics education and science education in general,” reads a portion of the press release.
“In addition, he has made a tremendous impact on the character of the school by developing numerous non-science and extra-curricular programs at the school and in the community.”
Hailing Beck’s intellect and repertoire of knowledge, along with 18 years of teaching experience, the association described him as equipped to “engage and motivate students to academic success in physics.”
The depth of his expertise led to Beck being requested to become a member of committees for Alberta Education for Diploma exam item-writing, professional development, as well as curriculum design. He was even hired by the Perimeter Institute to help develop teacher resources for Alberta.
Going above and beyond the regular call of an educator’s duty, Beck additionally successfully endeavoured to secure five grants totalling $50,000 to purchase materials and equipment that have greatly augmented hands-on learning and understanding for his students.
Furthermore, he’s embarked with students on field trips to West Edmonton Mall to experience live physics and also coordinated as well as mentored a group of Grade 10-12 students who developed a winning proposal to gain beam time at the Canadian Light Source Synchotron at the University of Saskatchewan.
He has also played an active role in offering guidance and support to the school’s leadership program and drama productions.
The award, in part sponsored by CAP, was introduced in 2010 not only to recognize excellence in teaching physics in Canadian high schools as well as general and vocational colleges, but also for educators who encourage and promote physics to their students.
Founded in 1945, CAP is a professional association that represents more than 1,600 individual physicists and physics students in Canada, the U.S. and overseas, as well as a number of corporate, institutional, and departmental members.
