Blair students and teacher win Siemens Foundation awards

Two Blair students and a Blair teacher were honored by the Siemens Foundation with Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement, which recognize high achievement in the Advanced Placement (AP) program.

Seniors John Kim and Alice Li each were awarded $2,000 scholarships as the male and female students who received the greatest number of five's on a selection of seven AP exams in the state of Maryland. Magnet math teacher Nanette Dyas won the Siemens state teacher award, given to a teacher who, according to the Siemens Foundation, demonstrates "exemplary teaching and enthusiastic dedication to both students and subject." With her award, she received $1,000.

Dyas, who teaches Magnet Functions, Analysis I (the Magnet equivalent of Calculus) and linear algebra, has taught at Blair for 21 years. She was involved in the rewriting of the county Calculus curriculum 10 years ago. She spent three years leading this group, writing curriculum and exams, an experience she feels may have contributed to her receiving the award.

"I was excited, but I'm sure that it's because of the things that I've learned from other colleagues. They're just as deserving," Dyas said. "Mr. Stein [who also teaches Analysis I] and I joint plan what we do in the analysis class, so the kids doing well [on AP tests] is due to both of us."

To be eligible for this award, teachers must have taught at least one class of AP Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science or Physics for at least five years. Scores on the AP exams for these seven subjects are used to select the students.