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Park Hill South’s Lindsay gets top teacher award
Physics instructor uses hands-on lessons to make science fun
By Ray Weikal
Todd Lindsay has learned that all high school students understand science, but they just don’t know it.
A Park Hill South High School science teacher, Lindsay was named Teacher of the Year during Park Hill School District’s service awards banquet April 29 at Lakeview Middle School.
In the school’s cavernous multipurpose room, several hundred teachers, staff members, administrators and Board of Education members honored those who make the district one of Missouri’s best, said Mark Frost, assistant superintendent for human resources.
“They made Park Hill a great place to learn and a great place to work,” Frost said.
Lindsay has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa and a master’s from Webster University. His class load includes traditional and Advanced Placement physics and physical science.
A passion for making science classes fun and educational led to Lindsay’s nomination for the district’s top teacher honor, said Superintendent Dennis Fisher. Lindsay’s unique hands-on activities include using an old television and a magnet to demonstrate abstract concepts like electromagnetism, Fisher said.
“You don’t hear students talk about long lectures in Todd’s classes,” he said. “Todd’s students are likely to remember their physics lessons for the rest of their lives.”
Patience is another virtue characterizing Lindsay’s classroom demeanor, Fisher said. Lindsay does everything possible to get the point across in a way that works for each student.
“His students know that if they have difficulty grasping a subject, he will work with them until they understand the concept,” Fisher said.
After Fisher’s remarks, Lindsay accepted his award and gave credit to the experienced teachers who were his mentors.
“My mentors taught me the importance of making things fun while trying to ignite that spark in students to learn more about science,” Lindsay said.
Every high school student is capable of understanding the fundamentals of physics, Lindsay said.
“I love seeing the light come on when a student has tackled something difficult or something they didn’t think they could do, and realized that they could do it,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if the student is one of the best and brightest our district develops or if it’s a student who hasn’t experienced a lot of success in school.”
The science teacher’s role is to find methods of making abstract concepts concrete, Lindsay said. One of the best ways to do that is illustrate lessons with real world examples, he said.
“Teaching should challenge students as well as be supportive of those students who struggle,” Lindsay said. “I offer personal examples of the challenges and adversities I’ve faced in school and life to help students overcome the challenges they face in my class and in the future.”
Park Hill School District Service Awards:
Teacher of the Year
- Todd Lindsay (science teacher, Park Hill South High School)
Randy Martin Award
- Kathy Cole (nurse, Park Hill South High School)
Super Booster Award
- Linda Burr (parent, Renner Elementary School, Congress Middle School and Park Hill High School)
Employee Booster Award
- John Sedler (assistant principal, Park Hill South High School)
Spirit Awards
- Aaron Wilson (Chinn Elementary School)
- Cheryl Silver (English Landing Elementary)
- Katie McDaniel (Graden Elementary School)
- Bridget Kellan (Hawthorn Elementary School)
- Kristen Spence (Line Creek Elementary School)
- Molly Schmitz (Renner Elementary School)
- Lori Lopez (Southeast Elementary School)
- Shawna Jobe (Union Chapel Elementary School)
- Susan Johnston (Congress Middle School)
- Traci Dorrell (Lakeview Middle School)
- Aaron Brown (Plaza Middle School)
- Jennifer Gross (Park Hill High School)
- Lesley Stevens (Park Hill South High School)
- Kenny Page (Support Services)
- Rocky Holland (District Central Office)
- Elaine Hollingsworth (Early Childhood Education)
Staff writer Ray Weikal can be reached at 389-6637 or rayweikal@npgco.com.
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A Park Hill South High School science teacher, Lindsay was named Teacher of the Year during Park Hill School District’s service awards banquet April 29 at Lakeview Middle School.
In the school’s cavernous multipurpose room, several hundred teachers, staff members, administrators and Board of Education members honored those who make the district one of Missouri’s best, said Mark Frost, assistant superintendent for human resources.
“They made Park Hill a great place to learn and a great place to work,” Frost said.
Lindsay has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa and a master’s from Webster University. His class load includes traditional and Advanced Placement physics and physical science.
A passion for making science classes fun and educational led to Lindsay’s nomination for the district’s top teacher honor, said Superintendent Dennis Fisher. Lindsay’s unique hands-on activities include using an old television and a magnet to demonstrate abstract concepts like electromagnetism, Fisher said.
“You don’t hear students talk about long lectures in Todd’s classes,” he said. “Todd’s students are likely to remember their physics lessons for the rest of their lives.”
Patience is another virtue characterizing Lindsay’s classroom demeanor, Fisher said. Lindsay does everything possible to get the point across in a way that works for each student.
“His students know that if they have difficulty grasping a subject, he will work with them until they understand the concept,” Fisher said.
After Fisher’s remarks, Lindsay accepted his award and gave credit to the experienced teachers who were his mentors.
“My mentors taught me the importance of making things fun while trying to ignite that spark in students to learn more about science,” Lindsay said.
Every high school student is capable of understanding the fundamentals of physics, Lindsay said.
“I love seeing the light come on when a student has tackled something difficult or something they didn’t think they could do, and realized that they could do it,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if the student is one of the best and brightest our district develops or if it’s a student who hasn’t experienced a lot of success in school.”
The science teacher’s role is to find methods of making abstract concepts concrete, Lindsay said. One of the best ways to do that is illustrate lessons with real world examples, he said.
“Teaching should challenge students as well as be supportive of those students who struggle,” Lindsay said. “I offer personal examples of the challenges and adversities I’ve faced in school and life to help students overcome the challenges they face in my class and in the future.”
Park Hill School District Service Awards:
Teacher of the Year
- Todd Lindsay (science teacher, Park Hill South High School)
Randy Martin Award
- Kathy Cole (nurse, Park Hill South High School)
Super Booster Award
- Linda Burr (parent, Renner Elementary School, Congress Middle School and Park Hill High School)
Employee Booster Award
- John Sedler (assistant principal, Park Hill South High School)
Spirit Awards
- Aaron Wilson (Chinn Elementary School)
- Cheryl Silver (English Landing Elementary)
- Katie McDaniel (Graden Elementary School)
- Bridget Kellan (Hawthorn Elementary School)
- Kristen Spence (Line Creek Elementary School)
- Molly Schmitz (Renner Elementary School)
- Lori Lopez (Southeast Elementary School)
- Shawna Jobe (Union Chapel Elementary School)
- Susan Johnston (Congress Middle School)
- Traci Dorrell (Lakeview Middle School)
- Aaron Brown (Plaza Middle School)
- Jennifer Gross (Park Hill High School)
- Lesley Stevens (Park Hill South High School)
- Kenny Page (Support Services)
- Rocky Holland (District Central Office)
- Elaine Hollingsworth (Early Childhood Education)
Staff writer Ray Weikal can be reached at 389-6637 or rayweikal@npgco.com.