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As the new school year got underway, KIOGA continued our energy advocacy efforts by providing professional presentations to Topeka School District (USD 501) teachers and helping the Kansas Oil & Gas Resources Fund (KOGRF) conduct a science teacher workshop. Expanding educator awareness about hydrocarbon-based energy is fundamental to the KIOGA energy education advocacy effort.

KIOGA energy education advocacy launched the new school year with presentations to Topeka School District (USD 501) teachers on September 26th. Bill Bagshaw, General Director of USD 501 School Leadership & Academic Programs, invited KIOGA President Edward Cross to make three 90-minute presentations to USD 501 teachers during the district’s in-service professional development day on September 26th. Teachers must complete professional development units and/or continuing education units to maintain teaching certifications. Cross provided professional development presentations to the teachers seeking professional development activities to meet science and social science certification needs. Cross reviewed global energy dynamics and provided information teachers need to meet Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) learning standards for both science and social science including KSDE-advocated lesson plans, curricula, and youth-geared media.

KIOGA also assisted the KOGRF in conducting a science teacher workshop at Washburn University in Topeka on October 13th. The KOGRF science teacher workshop is designed to assist educators in providing a model for collaborative learning using crude oil, natural gas, and energy issues. Teachers learned activities for a solid earth science and energy curriculum and received resource materials and classroom supplies. Alan and Dianne DeGood once again worked diligently to prepare an outstanding program. Educational presentations were made by Doug Davis and Fred Stump of American Energies Corporation, Thomas Hansen of Bittersweet Energy, Inc., Ernie Morrison of Mull Drilling Company, Inc., Rex Buchanan of the Kansas Geological Survey, and Edward Cross of KIOGA. Betty Stump helped with the registration. Nearly 50 teachers participated in the KOGRF science teacher workshop on October 13th pushing the total number of teachers who have participated in Kansas oil & gas industry teacher workshops to over 1,100 from 36 school districts in 28 counties throughout Kansas.

At the request of the Ellis High School Counselor, KIOGA provided Ellis High School in Ellis, Kansas with our Kansas Oil & Gas Career Toolkit. The toolkit was requested by the counselor to use with Ellis High School seniors who are planning career strategies. KIOGA’s Kansas Oil & Gas Career Toolkit outlines job descriptions, typical education requirements, typical career paths, routine working conditions, salary information, and more for over 70 jobs and careers in the Kansas oil and gas industry.

KIOGA’s energy education advocacy programs provide better energy education to all people of Kansas and continue to grow at a record pace each year! Demand for our programs continue to grow with many classroom presentations scheduled and anticipated during the remainder of the 2008-2009 school year. Your participation is needed! If you would like to participate in the energy education advocacy effort, please contact the KIOGA Wichita Office at 316-263-7297.