Brain Power at SJIHM

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Neighbors | Submitted.Pictured, from left, are Sarah Flores (front), Joseph Wolfe, Deklin Miller, Angelina Cochrane, (back) Nancy Pommerening, and second grade teacher Sharon Machuga during Brain Power, a National Institute Drug Awareness Program at St. Joseph Immaculate Heart of Mary School.

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Neighbors | Submitted.Nancy Pommerening (center) worked with second-grade students Marissa Conroy, Matthew Fryfogle, Lucas Andino and Kendra Mills as they begin to learn the parts of the brain during Brain Power, a National Institute Drug Awareness program at St. Joseph Immaculate Heart of Mary School.

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Neighbors | Submitted.From left, second-graders Deklin Miller, Joseph Wolfe, Sarah Flores and Angelina Cochrane looked to see what is in the Brains in a Box during Brain Power, a National Institute Drug Awareness program at St. Joseph Immaculate Heart of Mary School.

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Neighbors | Submitted.Pictured, from left, are Matthew Fryfogle, Marissa Conroy, Nancy Pommerening, Kendra Mills and Lucas Andino during Brain Power, a National Institute Drug Awareness Program at St. Joseph immaculate Heart of Mary School.

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Neighbors | Submitted.Second-grader Marissa Conroy held Brains in a Box during Brain Power, a National Institute Drug Awareness program at St. Joseph Immaculate Heart of Mary..

Ohio Certified Prevention Specialist Nancy Pommerening visited St. Joseph Immaculate Heart of Mary School, a Lumen Christi school, to discuss The National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Brain Power junior scientist program.

According to their website, “NIDA’s mission is to lead the Nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction.”

While at SJIHM, Pommerening visited all the teachers in support of the Brain Power program. She taught a “Brains in a Box” lesson to Sharon Machuga’s second-grade class. Students followed directions to make a model of the brain using play dough. They learned that the brain consists of different parts with each part affecting different parts of their body and memory.

Pommerening described Brain Power as a Kindergarten through ninth-grade prevention program to pre-arm students with knowledge about the effects of drugs on the brain.

Nancy Pommerening is the Executive Director of Drug Awareness and Prevention Inc., based in Rocky River. She graduated from Kent State University as Valedictorian from the Honors College, and College of Education. During her teaching career she was named District 11 Educator of the Year. Pommerening retired from school teaching in 2008 and is now dedicated to decreasing the demand for illicit drugs and effective interdiction strategies.