Speech by John Jackson
National Science Teachers Association\Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Teachers
Eleventh Annual Toyota TAPESTRY Awards Banquet
Thursday, March 22, 2001
St. Louis, Missouri 

TOYOTA TAPESTRY GRANT: A KEY TO YOUR FUTURE

Thank you very much for inviting me tonight. It‘s an absolute pleasure to be back in St. Louis. I actually received my Toyota TAPESTRY Grant here in 1996. The pleasure is further elevated by the presence of the 2001 Toyota TAPESTRY Grant Awardees.  

First, I would like to begin by congratulating you, the TAPESTRY Grant Awardees; your projects are worthy of praise. Second, thank you Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. for sponsoring the Toyota TAPESTRY Grants competition, you have improved the quality of science instruction in America. 

I have been asked to come here tonight and talk about my success with and beyond my TAPESTRY Grant, but I am going change this a bit to include you the 2001 Awardees. I praise YOU for your creative vision and demonstrated success. Your proposals exhibit: high-risk projects, innovative designs, and excellence in science. High-risk projects test the limits of science; you have all passed the test. You’re all professionals. You’re role models for your students and other teachers. And for our country, you occupy a special position; you are “leaders in science.” 

My successful 1996 TAPESTRY project has focused positive attention on my school and me, validated my teaching style, given me confidence, and inspired me to go further, work harder, and share what I learned with others. Most of all the TAPESTRY Grant has created new and different professional opportunities for me to grow. 

TAPESTRY Awardees, tonight is your night; tomorrow is a new opportunity. Albert Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” Take this wisdom and build a new future for you and your students to learn science and dream of success dream big dreams because, tonight is your night; tonight is for dreams. And encourage your students to dream, too. And remember tonight is your night. 

You might ask, “What have I accomplished since my Toyota TAPESTRY Grant?” One of the most important outcomes was improved student performance for my students and an increase in science content knowledge for myself. It wasn’t easy; but I had a dream. In short, my TAPESTRY Grant has made me a better teacher. The confidence that I gained has helped me to go further and do more. With this confidence, one could say it has made me, “the little engine that could.” 

Project EARTH, my successful Toyota TAPESTRY Grant project, has enormously benefited my school, my students, and me. Consequently, I was able to greatly expand Project EARTH. Now, we have more grants, more computers and digital equipment, and more interested students. This high level exposure has resulted with many rewards for me. In May 2000, I was awarded the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship. Today, I am an Einstein Fellow assigned to National Science Foundation, Division of Graduate Education; I work on educational policy that will influence the next generation of scientists. It all started with my Toyota TAPESTRY Grant. 

As most of you know, science is the driving force behind our “new” economic system. Our society relies on a knowledge-based community, rather than just the ability to manufacture things. Technological words e.g., Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, and Information technology offer us hope. All of these revolutionary words begin with science. Success in this knowledge-based society will require a variety of critical thinking skills and the ability to communicate. Employers will demand workers who can learn new skills to adapt to changing job requirements and use new technologies while working in collaboratively in groups. You are the frontline troops in the scientific defense of America. You are all cutting edge educators. 

It has been said, “Winning the Toyota TAPESTRY Grant was the highlight of my professional life.” This is certainly true for me. And it will be true for you. Albert Einstein said, “Science should always be fun.” You are in a strategic position to make science fun and meaningful for your students. I hope that you accept this challenge. And fill your students with a “fire for learning” that will prepare them a scientific role in the future. And remember, “Tonight is your night; tomorrow is a new opportunity.”

Thank you.