Hicksville Teacher Selected for National Field School, Brings Unique Experience Back to Students

Hicksville Schools is proud to announce that Ms. Rees, a middle school science teacher, was one of only 30 educators nationwide chosen to participate in the prestigious DIG Field School, a program organized by the Burke Museum and the University of Washington.

Over the course of five days this summer, Ms. Rees joined researchers in the world-renowned Hell Creek fossil beds of Montana. The program gave participating teachers hands-on training in paleontological field methods, including fossil prospecting, microfossil collection, GPS tagging, and preparing specimens for transport.

Among her discoveries, Ms. Rees tagged a potential Triceratops fossil as “AcesBone,” ensuring Hicksville is now represented in the fossil record for future scientific study. All of the fossils she recovered—ranging from teeth and scales to bone fragments and plants—are now housed at the Burke Museum in Seattle, Washington.

In addition to her personal experience, the program creates ongoing learning opportunities for Hicksville students. Each year, Ms. Rees’s classes will receive sediment samples collected from Hell Creek by University of Washington researchers. Students will search for microfossils, identify their findings, and return them to the Burke Museum to contribute to active scientific research.

“This was an incredible experience that I am so proud to have earned,” said Ms. Rees. “I am excited to share it with my students and give them the chance to connect directly with real scientific work.”

Superintendent Mr. Keith Countryman expressed pride in Ms. Rees’s accomplishment, stating, “We are fortunate to have teachers who seek out opportunities like this. Their dedication not only enriches their own professional growth but also creates amazing experiences for our students here at Hicksville.”