
Award winning kindergarten teacher Renee Genbauffe O’Leary
is a firm believer that “teaching and life should be lived to the
fullest, filled with learning and laughter and brimming with love for
the world around you.”
Renee has spent her entire 42-year teaching career as a kindergarten
teacher. She makes science a part of the kindergarten learning
experience. Through her Linking Home and School with P.A.S.S. (Portable
Affordable Simple Science) program, Renee introduces kindergartners to
basic scientific concepts, such as the body’s five senses, shapes,
colors, water, air, and different forms of matter.
In 1953-54, Renee taught in the Erie County Pennsylvania Day School.
From 1954-56, she taught in the West Hempfield Pennsylvania School
District. Renee taught in the Wilmington (DE) Public schools from 1956
to 1980. She began teaching kindergarten with the Colonial School
District in New Castle, Delaware in 1980. In August, 1994 she resigned
from her kindergarten position and began working as an Early Childhood
Science Resource Teacher at Caravel Academy in Delaware.
Renee received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1950 from Millersville
State College Pennsylvania. She also studied at Temple University, the
University of Delaware, the Delaware Teacher Center, and Delaware
Department of Public Instruction.
Special Recognition
2002 |
Chasing Rainbows Award |
2002 |
National Invitational Science Olympiad – Judge |
2002 |
LYSOL/NSTA Science Challenge Award |
2001 |
Millersville Distinguished Alumni of the Year |
2000 |
Governors Outstanding Volunteer Award |
1999 |
President of Brandy Winers, LTD |
1998 |
Delaware Womens Hall of Fame Inductee |
1996 |
Selected as a presenter in the Association for Childhood Education International Hall of Excellence |
1995 |
Delaware Science Alliance Award for outstanding contributions to science education |
1995 |
Included in the US Department of Education book, “Promising Practices in Mathematics and Science” |
1993 |
State Farm “Good Neighbor” Award for science teachers |
1993 |
Named among the nation’s Top 20 kindergarten through 12th-grade |
1993 |
Dupont Mini-Grant for her “science in a bag” program |
1992 |
Named the 1992 SUPERSTAR! In Education by the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce |
1991 |
Christa McAuliffe Fellowship, which included $33,300 in federal money |
1991 |
Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Science |
1982 |
Delaware Teacher of the Year |