2025 Ed Roy Award Recipient
David W. Curry, an Earth and space science teacher at Newtown Middle School in Newtown, Pennsylvania, has been named the 2025 recipient of the American Geoscience Institute’s (AGI) Edward C. Roy Jr. Award for Excellence in K-8 Earth Science Teaching.
A dedicated lifelong learner, Curry says that his teaching has been reinvigorated by recent professional development experiences as a mentor for the American Meteorological Society’s DataStreme Atmosphere, Ocean, and Climate graduate courses for teachers. Such experiences have enabled him to advance authentic lessons that engage students with real-world problems through activities that mirror the work of professionals and connect them with scientists. For example, Curry has developed a multi-month, computer-based lab exercise — building on NASA’s Sally Ride EarthKAM (Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle school students) educational program — that empowers students to work with satellite images and data to explore phenomena such as weather, geologic processes, coastal erosion, and plate tectonics.
“Dave Curry is the sort of passionate, engaging Earth science educator who helps young people realize the life-changing potential of geoscience,” said AGI Executive Director Dr. Jonathan Arthur. “Through instruction that makes authentic connections to geoscience ideas and practices, he helps students explore the ways that Earth science relates to real-world issues such as public safety, infrastructure development, technological innovation, and economic prosperity.”
Curry earned his bachelor’s degree at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and his master’s degree from Arcadia University. In his 33 years as an Earth science educator at the middle- and high-school levels, he has won awards for his teaching from several prominent geoscience organizations, including the National Association of Geoscience Teachers and Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (now Seismological Facility for the Advancement of Geoscience). Curry is known for his enthusiastic engagement of students and serves as local school sponsor for science fairs, routinely encouraging participants to focus projects on Earth and space science. In addition to holding membership in multiple professional educator associations including the National Earth Science Teachers Association, Curry serves on the boards of directors of the National Middle Level Science Teaching Association and the American Meteorological Society Board for Pre-College Teaching.
As part of the award, Curry will receive a $2,500 cash prize and up to $1,500 for professional travel. Both he and his school will receive plaques recognizing the accomplishment. Curry will be recognized in a ceremony during the National Earth Science Teachers Association’s Friends of Earth Science Reception at the National Science Teaching Association’s Annual Conference in Philadelphia in March 2025.
2025 National Finalists for the award are Brian Gardiner from Atlanta, Georgia, and Robert Zinke from Merrick, New York. Each finalist will receive a plaque and publications from AGI.
Given annually, AGI’s Edward C. Roy Jr. Award traditionally recognizes one classroom teacher from kindergarten to eighth grade for leadership and innovation in earth science education. The award is named in honor of Dr. Edward C. Roy Jr., who was a strong and dedicated supporter of Earth science education. To learn more, please see the Ed Roy Award page.