First Science Center Director

1964-1978

The Needham Science Center began as an idea in the mind of former Needham Public Schools' Superintendent, William Powers. Mr. Powers wanted to see "exciting" science happen in the Needham classrooms.

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, 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.

Magician, Author

Director 1978-1998

Larry 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.

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 The Burlington Science Center, in Burlington, MA. Our "sister" science center celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2014.

Master Craftsman and Taxidermist

Director 1998-2001

In 1998 Mr. DeWolf became Director upon Mr. White's retirement.

Sadly, both Norm Harris and Larry White died in 2009.

Science=Fun

Director 2001-2007

In 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.

Opened the Science Center to the Public

Director 2007-2014

In 2007, Ms. Mary Rizzuto was hired to serve as both Science Center Director and Elementary Science Curriculum Specialist. Ms. Rizzuto, was charged with aligning the Needham Public Schools elementary science curriculum to the Massachusetts frameworks and establishing an inquiry-based kindergarten through grade 5 curriculum sequence. She was asked to open the doors of the Science Center to the public, welcome support from the community and provide an active link between science in the schools and the wider community. Perhaps "Ms. Mary's" most popular innovation is Family Science Night, a district-wide event filled with interactive displays, activities, and workshops.

"Ms. Mary" came from the Cambridge Public Schools, where she served as a classroom teacher and a Grade K-6 Science Specialist. Mary's background also includes extensive experience as a teacher researcher and adjunct professor. Mary's brought with her a belief in collaboration, a deep respect for the craft of classroom teaching, a delight in children's inquisitiveness, a desire to get students outdoors, and a passion for inquiry science and engineering.

The Needham Science Center 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.