2007 Siemens Science Teacher Award Recipients: New York

P.S. 4
Fresh Meadows, New York

Subjects Taught: Rose is the school Guidance Counselor and previously taught Special Education to grades PK-6.
Years Teaching: 14 years teaching and 27 years as a guidance counselor. Education: BS in Elementary Education, MS in Psychology, and MS in Guidance Counseling from New York University.
Accomplishments:  The focus of her school has been boosting test scores in all areas. Science has been an interest to the school community and is taught using the core curriculum. The school has researched and purchased a science library with texts, workbooks, and experiment kits for the students to use.

St. Matthias Parish School
Queens, New York

Subjects Taught: Science to grades 6-8.
Years Teaching: 29 years
Education: Speech Pathology at St. John’s University and Adelphi.
Inspiration to become a teacher: Deborah was intrigued by the science involved in her speech pathology courses and her work with special needs children, which led her to teach junior high school.
Accomplishments: Deborah has used the Star Lab portable planetarium to teach astronomy, and has also attended Space Camp. At St. Matthias, Deborah participates in an ongoing recycling and environment program which includes reusing cell phones and ink cartridges. Deborah’s environmental group has also planted a school garden and raises and releases butterflies and lady bugs into the community.

Huntington Intermediate School
Huntington Station, New York

Subjects Taught: Science, Math, Social Studies, & Liberal Arts Studies to grades 3-6. 
Years Teaching: 31 years
Education: BA from Marymount College, an MA in Early Childhood from Adelphi University, and an MA in Science with a specialization in Teaching the Talented and Gifted. 
Inspiration to become a teacher: Maryann was inspired by teachers that brought lessons to life using hands-on teaching methods.
Accomplishments: Maryann has made use of the Starlab portable planetarium to teach astronomy while sharing myths created by the Native Americans and Ancient Greeks to explain constellations in the night sky. She and her students met Dr. James Watson, who discovered the shape of DNA during a trip to the DNA learning center in Cold Spring, New York.

P.S. 242
Queens, New York

Subjects Taught: Science to grades K-3.
Years Teaching: 11 years
Education:  MA in Elementary Education from Queens College.
Inspiration to become a teacher: Her parent’s interest in gardening and the environment inspired her to become a science teacher.  She continues to incorporate hand-on science lessons and field trips into the curriculum.
Accomplishments: Elizabeth started a school garden for her students to tend and study, stressing the importance of preserving the environment.

P.S. 5
Bronx, New York

Subjects Taught: Science
Years Teaching: 30 years before retiring to become an education consultant. Education: Pablo attended elementary school, middle school, and high school in the Bronx and is an alumni of Lehman College, CCNY, and Long Island University.
Inspiration to become a teacher: Pablo originally studied to become an aviation mechanic and learned he wanted to become a teacher when he attended instructorschool as a Naval Air Reservist at age 20. Accomplishments: Pablo has developed partnerships with outside science programs to serve teachers, students, and most recently to work with parents and children together to foster positive images of science and scientists.

Manhattan Comprehensive Night and Day High School
New York, New York

Subjects Taught: AP Science
Years Teaching: 30 years
Education:  MS in Biology and Administrative Supervision from Iona College, an MA in Biology from Boston College, MA in Biology from Lehman College, and an Education Degree and CAGS in Science Education from Boston University. Inspiration to become a teacher: Mike always loved science. Growing up, he spent countless hours in the American Museum of Natural History, and received encouragement from many teachers. 
Accomplishments: Mike has brought a variety of cutting-edge professional development experiences to other teachers at his school. Mike incorporates a Smart Board in his lessons and has his students create and give Power Point presentations in math and science. His students also participate in internships and academic programs with Rockefeller University, Cornell, and Cooper Union.

St. Leo School
Queens, New York

Subjects Taught: Physical, Life, and Earth Science to grades 6-8.
Years Teaching: 4 years
Education: Attended elementary school, middle school, and high school in Queens. BA in Mechanical Engineering from the New York Institute of Technology and an MA in Computer Science.
Inspiration to become a teacher: Juan was inspired by his math and science teachers. 
Accomplishments: Dedicated to exploring new teaching paradigms and project-based work, Juan’s leadership and enthusiasm is evident in his lessons. His most successful teaching lesson is on heredity and its connections to DNA and proto synthesis. He plans on incorporating quantum physics in the curriculum this year.

Hillcrest High School
Queens, New York

Subjects Taught: Research, DNA Technology, AP Biology.
Years Teaching: Has taught high school for 23 years.
Education: BA and MA in Science from Queens College.
Inspiration to become a teacher: Bette always had a natural inclination towards science. As a child she was very curious about astronomy, animals, and plants. 
Accomplishments: Bette has helped develop and strengthen a New York City-wide IT-based forensic science curriculum which is now being disseminated to 25 NYC middle and high schools and will eventually be launched nationally.