June 10, 2011
Karen Barber and Schenectady Museum & Suits-Bueche Planetarium Executive Director Kerry Orlyk.
Berne-Knox-Westerlo Middle School science teacher Karen Barber was honored at the Invention Convention 2011 Reception and Awards Ceremony on May 26 at the Schenectady Museum & Suits-Bueche Planetarium.
“It was a great night,” Barber said. “I was very surprised that they honored me.”
Barber, who is retiring in June after 22 years with the district, was honored for being instrumental in the promotion of Invention Convention — an annual invention competition open to Capital District students in kindergarten through eighth grade — and for diligently coordinating the efforts to maximize the participation of BKW students each year.
“It’s been fun,”
Barber said, “but it’s not about me; it’s always been about the kids. It’ fun when the kids win, and they’re so excited. For some, it makes their whole year.”
Barber had been including inventing in her sixth grade curriculum for years. Then, one day, she received a flier about Invention Convention.
“Since the convention included all we were doing in class, I just decided to schedule everything in my course around it,” Barber said.
That first year, 41 BKW students were named semi-finalists and 10 finalists. It was the beginning of a 14-year winning streak for the school. During that time, BKW has had at least one finalist every year.
“I always tell my students they’re as good as any other student in the Capital Region,” she said. “I tell them you never know if you don’t try. They’ve done a great job over the years.”
Creating the inventions is a year-long process at BKW. The students talk about it and are constantly viewing short clips on inventors and their inventions to keep the students’ creativity flowing.
“You have a problem and you come up with a solution,” Barber said. “That’s what it’s all about.”
Barber never chooses BKW submissions to Invention Convention, but instead sends in every student’s creation. This year, Barber personally delivered to the museum each of the invention models in preparation for the second phase of judging, during which eight students were named semi finalists and two BKW students — Stephanie Mason and Patrick Farnan — were named finalists.
“We were so excited,” Barber said. “A lot of time and effort goes into this. The reason I love inventing is because it’s theirs – it’s not research they did out of a book.”
Barber was also a guest speaker at the 2000 and 2005 Invention Convention Reception and Awards Ceremony.
“It’s a wonderful program,” she said. “I can’t say enough positive things about it.”
Even though Barber is leaving the school, she intends to keep an eye out for new inventions in the marketplace.
“I’d be thrilled if one day I see something that says ‘Invented by …
from BKW schools’,” she said. “They’re on the right track now to make
that possible.”
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