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Victoria Acquistapace For the past 21 years, Victoria Acquistapace has taught high school biology and chemistry to a variety of students. She often applies her experience in university and corporate labs to her classroom. In fact, one of her mentors calls Acquistapace "the Will Clark" of teachers. She is most proud of creating strong weekly lab programs, with all students having at least one annual field study ranging from touring electroplating factories to studying local Delta wildlife. Thanks to her grant-writing success, Acquistapace is known for expanding technology for students' use. She maintains a high standard, making hands-on experience for students her highest priority. Whether she's plunged in a dunk tank so students can determine her volume, dressed as a headless Lavoisier as she lectures on the Law of Conversation of Mass or laying down rhymes in her end-of-the-school year rap performance, Acquistapace ensures that students have fun and strengthen their minds with literature and science. |
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Sergio de Alba A son of a farm worker, Sergio de Alba says he has been fascinated by the science of nature since elementary school. While no renowned universities or scientific competitions are located in Los Banos, that hasn’t stopped de Alba from creating extensive inquiry-based research programs that, in the past six years, have inspired thousands of students to work hard and accomplish their goals. Anything is possible, de Alba believes, if students work hard enough. He has been named teacher of the year twice and earned more than $120,000 in awards, grants and donations in support of his Arachnid Mania, The Doctor Is In, Fun Lab Friday and three garden programs. "Knowledge is power, and it's written on every single paper my students use," de Alba says. "A simple reminder of why they're here." |
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James T. Ikeda James Ikeda remembers these words from a mentor and teacher: "Great science teachers energize and encourage students by 'doing science.' Each day should be fun for the students and fun for the teacher. Teach by example! Be actively involved in learning, experimentation and causes that are important to you. Share those experiences with your students." Ikeda has followed that advice for 20 years. In his San Mateo Biotechnology Career Pathway session, students learn to do independent research and laboratory internships. Ikeda recently enhanced his own skills in an Industry Initiatives for Science and Math Education fellowship at Stanford University. Working in the Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Ikeda used PCR and western blots to research neurodegenerative disorders. By becoming a student again, Ikeda was reminded of the importance of connecting concepts to laboratory practice and that not every experiment works the first time. |
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Suzanna Gough Johnson Connecting lower-achieving students to science by making the subject relevant and engaging is 16-year veteran high school science teacher Suzanna Johnson's daily goal. Along with having her students digest and personalize scientific concepts in their interactive science notebooks, Johnson motivates and encourages them with technology, problem-based projects, games and inquiry labs. Johnson has served on standards-based assessment committees and helped inspire her former school to measure student achievement with accuracy and fairness. Johnson received the Placer County 2002 Teacher Who Makes A Difference award and the American Association of University Women Eleanor Roosevelt Fellowship. She is National Board Certified in science. |
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Steven G. Sogo Steve Sogo is a dynamic innovator, inspiring his students with a love of learning and an understanding of the nature of science. His courses are centered on lab activities that invite students to explore science. Students in his lab are challenged to come up with their own methods for accomplishing a task — for example, how to protect a spacecraft from highly corrosive "alien blood." His Advanced Chemical Research program guides students as they work on projects ranging from enzymology to chemiluminescence. To date, professional chemists at five universities have provided meaningful collaboration with students enrolled in the program. Sogo recently received grants from BP, Laguna Beach Education Foundation and Toshiba America Foundation to support his innovative ideas in science education. |
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Elisa M. Stone While working as a molecular biology research scientist, Elisa Stone became interested in education through her volunteer work with teens. "I believe that science learning is all about doing experiments," she says. Stone loves sharing her biology expertise with students by guiding them to think about science in new ways. Her students learn to analyze data to answer big questions such as: "Can race be defined by science?" "How do innovative treatments for cancer stop cell growth?" "What programs should be implemented to solve a community's asthma crisis?" And, "How can countries around the world slow the HIV/AIDS pandemic?" Class visitors will find Stone's students discussing experimental results with one another, arguing about optimizing procedures and sources of error and posing questions about how the world works. |
