Sunnyside Science Teacher Named ESD 105 Teacher Of The Year

Joyce Stark, a science teacher from the Sunnyside School District has been named the Educational Service District 105 Regional Teacher of the Year for 2015-2016. Stark is a veteran science teacher in the district and an active leader in regional and national student science fair programs.  Stark will serve as one of nine candidates from throughout the state for the 2016 Washington State Teacher of the Year award, which will be announced on Sept. 21 at Seattle Center’s Experience Music Project / Science Fiction Museum.
ESD 105 superintendent Steve Myers presented the award during a surprise announcement as part of the Sunnyside School District’s staff-wide pre-service orientation meeting at the Sunnyside High School Auditorium Today.

The regional honor follows Stark’s selection earlier this year as the Sunnyside School District’s Secondary Teacher of the Year.  Stark began her teaching career at Sunnyside’s schools in 1977.  She began a middle and junior high school earth and physical science teacher, then transferred in 2001 to her current position teaching science at Sunnyside High School.  As a high school teacher, she has taught biology, chemistry, botany, forensics, oceanography, and ecology, and established a research science elective.  She also incorporated science research programs into her classes, including the option for students to obtain credit for research conducted after school or during evenings and weekends.