2008 Siemens Science Teacher Award Recipients: New York

East Flatbush Community Research School,
Brooklyn, New York

Subjects Taught: 6th Grade Science
Years Teaching: 5 years
Education:B.A. in Political Science from SUNY Albany and M.S. in Elementary Education from Dowling College.
Accomplishments:  Alexandra’s science program is based on relating the subject to the daily lives of her students, and her teaching style is inquiry-based to motivate her students to learn more. She has shown her commitment to science through New York Hall of Science’s Urban Advantage partnership. Over the last three years she has been a lead teacher with the New York Hall of Science, mentoring other New York City middle school teachers during and after professional development.

Plainedge High School,
North Massapequa, New York

Subjects Taught: Supports 9th Grade Biology, 10th Grade Astronomy and Animal Behavior, Special Education
Years Teaching: 12 years
Education: B.S. in Education from SUNY Oswego, and M.S. in Environmental Biology from Governors State University in Illinois.
Accomplishments: Cheri helped to facilitate a community Astronomy program at the New York Hall of Science. She is a member of the Council for Exceptional Children, Secretary of the Plainedge Teacher Center Policy Board and has taught professional development courses about Inclusion Strategies. She continues to be a leader in her school by designing and offering new science electives. Cheri has found that
hands-on lessons, demonstrations and
manipulative factors can be used to relay scientific
information in a fun and entertaining manner.

Central Park East High School,
New York, New York

Subjects Taught: 9th Grade Forensics and Environmental Science and 11th and 12th Grade Forensics and RCT prep
Years Teaching: 3 years
Education: B.S. in Physics, University of Maryland and attended Teachers College at Columbia through the Petrie Fellowship program.
Accomplishments: Talia created an inquiry-based curriculum that is all hands-on. In both forensics and environmental science she has stressed the interconnectedness of science and created a curriculum that is spiraled around topics students hear about in the media. Talia is involved in the New York Hall of Science’s Crime Scene IT program and has partnered with the education staff to assist in leading the CSIT
mysteries during the Saturday Hayden Youth
Scientists in Residence Program.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. 11
Woodside, New York

Subjects Taught: 3rd- 6th Grade Science
Years Teaching: 37 years
Education:  B.A. from Queens College and Master’s Degree from St John’s University.
Accomplishments: Carole is an exemplary teacher who demonstrates the power of using a city’s resources. She has participated in every professional development course ever offered by the New York Hall of Science and other cultural institutions around the city and nationally. Carole enjoys learning along with her students, which helps her better guide their inquiry skills and use of the scientifi c method. She works diligently to meaningfully integrate the science curriculum with other subjects such as social studies, art and music.

Briarcliff High School,
Briarcliff Manor, New York

Subjects Taught: 9th Grade Regents Biology, 9th Grade Honors Biology, 11th and 12th grade AP Biology
Years Teaching: 17 years
Education:  B.A. in English from Cornell University, M.A. in Secondary School Science Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and an M.S. in Instructional Technology from New York Institute of Technology.
Accomplishments: Nancy incorporates hands-on activities and visual demonstrations for students to help them make connections to real-life situations. She enriches her biology courses by utilizing the Microlab and Biotech Lab from the New York Hall of Science, and has partnered with
them to prototype, develop and pilot two portable
laboratory programs for teachers.

Roberto Clemente School, I.S. 195,
New York, New York

Subjects Taught: 6th, 7th and 8th Grade Science and Health
Years Teaching: 5 years
Education:  Bachelor of Science with Honors and Master of Science in Biochemistry from McMaster University, Master of Arts in Secondary Science Education (Biology) from City College in New York City.
Accomplishments: In 2003, Raji joined the New York City Teaching Fellowship program. For the past four years she has worked with Urban Advantage, one of the New York Hall of Science’s partnerships. Raji feels that taking the science content out of the classroom and connecting it to the real world applications is essential for young learners. She encourages students to use their
critical thinking and refl ective skills as well as their
questioning skills to further understand concepts in
science.

The Gillen Brewer School,
New York, New York

Subjects Taught: -5th Grade Science and Technology, Special Education
Years Teaching: 10 years
Education: B.A. in Developmental Psychology from Long Island University and M.S. Ed. dual certifi cation in Special Education and General Education with a concentration in science from Touro College.
Accomplishments: In the fall of 2008, Andrea attended City College (CUNY) for Middle School Science Education. This summer she plans to implement a project she’s worked on for two years called “Fibonacci numbers in nature”. This course uses digital photography and microscopy to look at Fibonacci numbers in our environment. Students learn to appreciate art, science and math
by sharing it with the school community at a photo
gallery show.

I.S. 68,
Brooklyn, New York

Subjects Taught: 6th, 7th and 8th grades Integrated Science (Special Education)
Years Teaching: 20 years.
Education: Bachelor of Science in Education at Saint Mary’s University in the Philippines, and a Master’s Degree in Biology at Ifugao State College in the Philippines
Accomplishments: Betty is a Dana Fellow in the New York Hall of Science’s Dana Brain Science Educator Series, and is currently exploring how students behave and perform when faced with science concepts that are integrated with technology, engineering and art. She believes students benefi t from hands-on activities and encourages them to explore outside of the classroom to study, improve or design better
bridges, buildings, or ways of preserving the
environment.

Elmont Memorial High School,
Elmont, New York

Subjects Taught: 11th Grade Regents Chemistry and 9th – 12th Grade Science Research.
Years Teaching: 8 years
Education: B.S. in Biology from Pace University and an M.S. in Environmental Education from Queens College.
Accomplishments: Michelle finds it important to teach hands-on, brains-on, inquiry-based science which allows students to truly understand scientifi c concepts. An alumnus of Columbia University’s Summer Research Program for Science Teachers and the current Science Research teacher at her school, Michelle continues to partner with New York Hall of Science programs – including training and teaching from portable MicroLab and BiotechLab kits. As a board member of the New York State Science and Engineering Fair, she has been instrumental in bringing this international competition to the New York Hall of Science.

P.S. 11,
Woodside, New York

Subjects Taught: 4th, 5th and 6th Grade Science
Years Teaching: 27 years
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Education and Master’s Degree in Education from Adelphi University. .
Accomplishments: Joseph has developed Blasting Off with Math, Science and Technology, an interdisciplinary program that enables students to explore math, science, and technology principles related to rocketry. He has won the Disney Channel Award in Education, the Reader’s Digest American Teacher Hero In Education Award, and was the District 30 Teacher of the Year in 1992. He is also an adjunct professor of education at Adelphi University. Joseph is very involved at the New York
Hall of Science and has taken every professional
development program offered in science and other
disciplines to galvanize his curiosity and contribute
to his repertoire of curriculum.