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Debra Brice San Marcos Middle School San Marcos, California Debra Brice, a biology instructor at San Marcos Middle School in San Marcos, Calif., quotes Plutarch when explaining her career choice: "The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be ignited." Ms. Brice became a teacher after working for years as a technician in an environmental lab. Now, she trains her students to question the world around them, and takes pride in their fascination. "Watching my students' faces as they make their discoveries is better than making my own," she said. |
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Judith A. Flint Baumwirt Granada Hills Charter High School Granada Hills, California The challenge of teaching science drives Judith A. Flint Baumwirt, a chemistry instructor at Granada Hills Charter High School in Granada Hills, Calif. "Science instruction, especially chemistry, demands a tremendous amount of instantaneous creativity to help students bridge between the abstract and the application of concepts," she said. Ms. Flint Baumwirt's dedication to the education process goes beyond her work in the classroom; she is also founder and chair of a support group for area chemistry teachers, leading a national effort to promote teachers' career development. |
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Doug Green Vanden High School Fairfield, California Doug Green is passionate about science, but his inspiration to teach goes beyond subject matter. "I worry about the current state of scientific literacy in America and wish to improve it," he said. Along with his physics classes at Vanden High School in Fairfield, Calif., Mr. Green teaches a robotics curriculum he developed, coaching students in a national competition. "I want to increase students' understanding of science concepts and get them involved in fun, rewarding activities in and out of school," he said. |
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Ann Moriarty Davis Senior High School Davis, California From a very young age, Ann Moriarty was inspired by the power of science to make sense of the world. "Science explains almost everything," said Ms. Moriarty, who teaches at Davis Senior High School in Davis, Calif. A former researcher, she now enjoys a profession that allows her to share her love of science on a more personal level. "I want to introduce students to the world of science, so that they can love it too," she said. |
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Martin Teachworth La Jolla High School La Jolla, California "Teaching science is the key for me to get students to excel in life," said Martin Teachworth, physics instructor at La Jolla High School in La Jolla, Calif.. Having risen from humble beginnings to work his way through college, Mr. Teachworth uses science education as a tool to help students make better decisions, potentially helping secure a better way of life. "Teaching is more than experiments, demonstrations and lecturing," said Mr. Teachworth. "It is a way of understanding the world." |
