Staff Spotlight - Don Haas

Up next for our Staff Spotlight is Director of Teacher Programming, Don Haas. Don’s work in public outreach, teacher education, teacher professional development and curriculum materials development marries deep understandings of how people learn with deep understandings of the Earth system. 

Most recently, Don was awarded the 2020 Science Teachers Association of New York State (STANYS) Service Award. This award is given to those who make exceptional contributions in science education.

This award comes bittersweet to Don. One of his early mentors, Joe Stewart, was a two-time winner of the STANYS Service Award. While working with Don in the science department at Norwich High School, he connected Don with STANYS, which led to him participating in his first STANYS conference in1988. Sadly, Joe passed away earlier this year, and while he won’t get to see Don accept the award, he is remembered as a great mentor and leader. Another one of Don’s mentors, Verne Rockcastle, was also a winner of the award. 

Don believes the most important things educators are doing is helping learners understand the social and natural world in ways that inform their decision making. He is most passionate about building those understandings as they relate to climate change, and says that building understandings of energy and the nature of the Earth systems are essential to understanding climate change. 

Don says that “to be considered to be in the same group with [my mentors], and the many other winners of the award that I know and respect, is a deep honor”. 

Congratulations Don!