The Needham Science Center began as an idea in the mind of former Needham Public Schools' Superintendent, Mr. William Powers. Mr. Powers wanted to see "exciting" science happen in the Needham classrooms. |
Norman Harris, First Science Center Director |
He noticed visitors to the Boston Museum of Science returning again and again to experience more science. He envisioned using a "museum approach" to make science "come alive" for students and teachers in the schools. Mr. Powers convinced Norman Harris (pictured above), the renowned Director of Education and early television personality of the Museum of Science to try this approach in Needham. Intrigued by the possibilities, Mr. Harris agreed to the experiment and the Needham Science Center was established in 1964. |
Early Years
 Larry WhiteLarry White, physical science whiz, magician, author, and Supervisor of Programs and Courses at the Museum of Science joined Mr. Harris in Needham in 1965. The first three years were government funded but the success of the program inspired the town to add the Science Center to the school budget.
Expanding the Vision
 Dan DeWolf After Mr. Harris's 1978 retirement, Larry White became Director. He hired Dan DeWolf, then Science Specialist for the Newton Public Schools, as Assistant Director. For the next 20 years the team of White and DeWolf, together with their staffers, kept the Needham Science Center in the national limelight.
Thanks to the inspirational leadership of Larry White and Dan DeWolf, a Needham High School graduate, John Papadonis, went on to establish a second Science Center. The Burlington Science Center, in Burlington, MA., celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2009.
In 1998 Mr. DeWolf became Director upon Mr. White's retirement.
Sadly, both Norm Harris and Larry White died in 2009.
 Anne SchloderIn 2001, Mr. DeWolf handed the reins over to then Science Center staffer, Anne Schloder.
Ms. Schloder, a 14-year veteran of the Burlington Science Center, showed Needham staff and students alike how to have fun while studying science. Under Ms. Schloder's direction, the Science Center supported Needham's science curriculum with top-notch programs, kits, and activities. Ms. Schloder led the way in creating curriculum-based science activities to accompany new structures in Needham schools, such as Mitchell's cold frame and Broadmeadow's kinetic science sculpture.
The Science Center Today
 Mary RizzutoIn 2007, Ms. Mary Rizzuto was hired as the first Elementary Science Curriculum Specialist. She also assumed the reins of leadership at the Needham Science Center. A classroom teacher and science specialist from the Cambridge Public Schools, Ms. Rizzuto, was charged with aligning the Needham Public Schools elementary science curriculum to the Massachusetts frameworks and establishing a inquiry-based kindergarten through grade 5 curriculum sequence.
Following the directive from Superintendent Dan Gutekanst, Mary has led the Science Center in many new directions and initiatives. Some of Mary's innovations include: Science notebooks and observational sketching in the elementary classroom, innovative professional development opportunities for teachers, and extended office hours on Thursdays.
Under Mary's leadership the Science Center hosts an annual Family Science Night. These district-wide events bring together the students, teachers and community members around a specific theme in Science. The Newman School is converted into a fun filled adventure of interactive displays, activities, and lectures. March 11, 2010 is our next event. The theme is engineering and inventors.
Awards and Recognition
Although the Needham Science Center is part of a small public school system, it has received many recognitions including the once a year Pacemaker Award. It was involved in commercial educational programming (Classroom-5, Science Countdown, Observing Eye, Kid's Thing, TV High School, Earth Lab, Body Works). The Center won an ACT (Action for Children's Television) award, the Ohio State Award for TV Excellence, "Excellence in Science Education" by the National Science Foundation, and a "Class Act" award by WHDH-TV. Both Larry White and Dan DeWolf were inducted into the Massachusetts Hall of Fame for Science Educators.
Our Center received additional national recognition when it was featured in the "American Scene" pages of TIME magazine for April 4, l988 (Vol. 131, No. 14). We also authored magazine articles, National Engineering Week materials, National Science Week posters for the National Science Foundation and were featured in their newsletter "Directions". We have participated on numerous advisory boards and hosted workshops at the Center for national conferences.
During the 2006-2007 school year, the Science Center made the news again when, together with the Town of Needham Public Works Department, the Center received the Public Educator Award from the New England Water Environment Association. To support the DPW's mandate to educate students on storm water issues, the Science Center created an auditorium presentation titled"Oh No! Not Down The Drain!" Over 2000 elementary students viewed the show, which starred the entire Science Center staff and a DPW employee. After watching the presentation, every student had the opportunity to explore several DPW trucks.
Since 1964 our Center has worked with well over 100,000 Needham students and 1200 Needham teachers, providing Natural History, Biology, Physical Science, Earth & Space Science and Applied Science education of the highest caliber. We remain committed to making science "Come Alive" in the Needham Public Schools. As in the past our greatest honor is to serve the wonderful teachers, students and parents of Needham.
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