Szydlowski to continue science projects right after leaving CPS

Columbia Public Schools science educator Mike Szydlowski is ending his 25-year teaching profession at the finish of the college year, but he’ll be about, he mentioned.

He not too long ago announced his selection on Twitter.

“Following 25 years of operating crazy student/teacher applications, I’ve decided to retire right after this year,” he tweeted. “I will be functioning outdoors the box on points, but now outdoors the box functioning as a plan administrator for the Columbia STEM Alliance and major our Wild Trek science trips.”

Anna Osborne, a reading specialist at Jefferson Higher College, exactly where Shidlowski functions, responded.

“Heartbroken to see @Szidlowski leave CPS,” Osborne wrote. “As a parent, I witnessed firsthand the influence he had on students. But I am excited that it will continue to influence STEM education in our neighborhood! Congratulations Mike! I cannot wait to see what scientific magic you cook up!”

This is his 12th year at CPS, most of them as the district science coordinator. Final year, he moved to higher college science teacher.

“I’ve loved what I’ve been undertaking for the final 25 years, but teaching has turn out to be a lot more complicated and not as enjoyable,” Szydlowski mentioned of his selection. “My favourite element of my job has constantly been undertaking entertaining science projects with little ones. I identified other strategies to do that, major trips and functioning with the STEM Alliance.”

The Columbia STEM Alliance is a non-profit organization with a mission to offer science, technologies, engineering and mathematics to K-12 students.

“My purpose is to ditch the bureaucracy and concentrate on the element I enjoy,” Szydlowski mentioned.

At CPS, Shidlowski coordinated science trips for students to the Good Smoky Mountains and Grand Teton National Park.

“With the STEM Alliance, we will be major our personal science trips and functioning with diverse schools on composting applications,” Szydlowski mentioned.

He was instrumental in beginning the Boone County Nature College. The Jefferson Higher College Zoo was an additional project. Jefferson became a college of science, technologies, engineering, art and mathematics below his watch.

He will be in a position to operate with the college to keep the zoo, he mentioned.

Oh, and his children’s science column in the Tribune on Wednesdays will continue, he mentioned.

“I will have a lot more time to operate on them,” he mentioned.

Roger McKinney is the Tribune’s education reporter. He can be reached at rmckinnei@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He’s on Twitter at @rmckinnei9.