In a little less than three years at Harmony Science Academy, Marjon Roche has won the SPARK Award.
The award was created in 2019 by the Alliant group to recognize elementary science teachers who are increasing student achievement and engagement through innovative lesson plans that emphasize both the importance and fun aspects of science.
Applicants must be full-time elementary science teachers from an accredited Texas school to be considered for this award. They must apply and include a video explaining how they keep students engaged in science, which, for Roche, consists of fun and educational hands-on activities that make the learning process enjoyable for the students. Being named the winner, Roche received $500 towards his classroom and a minimum of $1,300.
He also won the People’s Choice Award, an additional prize. The $500 can be used for classroom supplies, which is a great help, he said.
This is Roche’s 16th year as a classroom teacher. Currently, he teaches fourth, fifth and sixth grade science.
Yuksel Kocak, Harmony Science Academy Odessa principal, said the school is gratified by Roche’s recognition.
“We are incredibly proud of Mr. Marjon Roche for being recognized with this year’s SPARK Award. His dedication to fostering a love for science among his students through hands-on, innovative teaching is inspiring. Mr. Roche truly represents the mission of Harmony Science Academy Odessa,” Kocak said.
Last year, his students had several projects in the Permian Basin Science and Technology Fair and several of four out of five students won awards. As a result, Roche started the science fair competition club, meant to prepare students for the fair.
Fifty students had signed up so far.
“We’re looking forward to a very successful year with this,” Roche said.
He added that he thinks the students will stick with it.
“I think so because most of our students here, they love science … and they really want to explore something. That’s what they are looking forward to every day. That’s why when they get inside a class, the first they ask me is Mr. Roche are we going to do an experiment today?”
He has taught at Ector County ISD and in countries like Indonesia and Thailand. He was in North Carolina for three years and then went back to the Philippines during COVID. He taught at a government school there and then he came to Texas. Roche is from Iloilo Province in the central part of the Philippines.
Educated in the Philippines, Roche has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a major in mathematics, a master’s degree in school management and last year he earned his PhD in educational management. This year, he is going for a second master’s degree in mathematics also from the Philippines online.
“I like to study,” Roche said.
Having lived in what he compared to a village in the Philippines that didn’t get electricity until 2009, Roche said when people finished high school they were done with their education. He didn’t want that for himself.
“I observed people in our village, they (were) … happy being in elementary, or in high school or middle school. It makes me think … if I get a degree, it can bring me somewhere else. It can bring me more opportunities, and like bigger opportunities and also I can explore other things,” Roche said.
