Award citation from Doug Walker, former NZASE President:
I am nominating Sandra Jackson for the Peter Spratt Medal. Over her career, she has made a vast, highly valuable and sustained contribution to science education locally and nationally. Sandra has been a specialist primary science teacher at Kings School for 26 years. During this time, she led the science department at Kings School. The department is a vibrant one with the teachers up to date with curriculum changes and teaching in innovative ways, e.g. incorporating IT into their practice and taking a socioscientific approach to learning. Sandra constantly develops new learning programmes to keep students engaged. Her latest innovation involves learning about physical and chemical changes in food, where the students make candy floss, cook pancakes and a chocolate cake. She incorporates different assessment strategies, such as creating a model of an animal whose form and function are linked to its environment.
Her contribution to the science education community is evident in her role as Chief Coordinator at the Auckland City Science and Technology Fair. Each year from 2000 to 2025, she has liaised with the major sponsor, judges and schools (around 20 each year). Sandra has used IT to modernise the administration systems, ensuring the Fair runs smoothly.
Sandra was an inaugural member of NZAPSE (2010-2024) and Chair from 2018-2024. With this organisation, Sandra helped to initiate the annual national Primary Science Week, running workshops and competitions, and sending resources to schools. She developed the process for school animal ethics applications and worked on safety-in-science processes at primary schools, while regularly updating the website.
During Sandra’s career, she has made an enormous contribution to primary science PLD. Sandra has helped to run two TRCC-funded PLD days for primary science teachers. She also led the organisation and running of annual PLD events for Primary Science Week and assisted with running Fantastic Science Days (2005-2012). Since 2013, Sandra has written and distributed a newsletter each term to Auckland primary teachers, full of events, ideas and resources. Not only does she generously share her expertise and resources with other primary teachers, but she also encourages them to apply for the Royal Society’s science teachers’ leadership course. Also, as a member of ASTA, Sandra uses her IT skills to create flyers to promote ASTA events, such as the annual dinner and PLD events.
I wholeheartedly recommend Sandra as a worthy recipient of this award.
Doug Walker