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Join SDSA in congratulating our 2011 Partnership Award Recipients and Nominees!
The San Diego Science Alliance recognizes outstanding examples of collaboration among teachers, administrators, community organizations and corporations with the presentation of Partnership Awards at an annual celebration. This year’s event, hosted by the San Diego Air and Space Museum, was especially meaningful as it marked the 15th Anniversary of SDSA. Kudos to those who have gone above and beyond to make a difference! Please join SDSA in recognizing and congratulating our 2011 Partnership Award recipients and nominees.
The 2011 Partnership Awards Recipients:
Special Award - Student Leadership: Thomas “Andrew” Keller
Mr. Keller saw the need for a SPARK like program at the high school level. He is the force behind the organization of the STING program at Granite Hills High School, which will be the first STING program in the nation. STING pairs middle school level science students with high schools to instill a desire for learning
Teacher: Sheila Krotz – San Ysidro High School
Shelia Krotz has worked diligently to tackle the need for qualified, bilingual healthcare workers by creating a Medical Pathway at San Ysidro High School. In the last three years, over 600 students have participated in the San Ysidro High School (SYHS) Medical Pathway program. Additionally, 52 students have taken the Southwest Community College, college Biology class for credit. Paid internships through SHARP Hospital have been completed by 50 students.
Administrator: Tina Brady – Lakeside Union School District
Tina Brady without a doubt understands the power of science and technology as a basis for all learning! In her district, Lakeside Union, she is champion for STEM partnerships, including IDEAS, a project that focuses on science project-based learning by using technology.
Volunteer: Sam Moini – Joan McQueen Middle School, Alpine School District
In one short year, Dr. Moini has been instrumental in educating and helping Joan McQueen Middle School become more technologically innovative. He has dedicated numerous hours serving on the District's technology committee, the band-width was increased on the school’s computer servers and the availability of technology to students has improved. In addition to time, Dr. Moini has also contributed financially. Between large personal donations and grants Dr. Moini obtained, the Alpine Natural Sciences Program was able to purchase a class set of wireless computers.
Company Partner: Lockheed Martin
Several years ago a cold call was made to Fred Becker at Lockheed Martin requesting participation in the SDSA - High Tech Fair. Mr. Becker was unfamiliar with SDSA, but got very excited when he learned about SDSA’s community involvement in STEM education. Mr. Becker recognized a common mission and has since championed SDSA within Lockheed Martin. This initial encounter resulted in Lockheed Martin participating in the 2009 HTF as an exhibitor. In 2010, Lockheed Martin expanded their exhibit and also provided a small cash and in-kind donation. In 2011 they provided a significant sponsorship, hosted the HTF orientation meeting and brought their impressive F-35 Flight Simulator to the event. Lockheed Martin will continue involvement in the 2012 HTF by serving on the Steering Committee.
In addition to their support of the HTF, Lockheed Martin has also partnered with SDSA for their Women in Engineering Day events and has expressed interest in supporting/partnering with SDSA's STEM Professionals with Class program. Lockheed Martin is incredibly supportive of SDSA and is always enthusiastic about the shared goal of enhancing STEM learning opportunities for middle and high school kids in San Diego. Lockheed Martin believes in developing homegrown talent for tomorrow's STEM workforce and is willing to invest their time and money into this effort.
Sustainable Program: Project SWELL – Jennifer Nichols Kearns
For the past five years Jennifer has represented ThinkBlue, San Diego and Project SWELL (Stewardship: Water Education for Lifelong Leadership). Project SWELL is a collaborative effort of ThinkBlue, San Diego, San Diego Coastkeeper, and San Diego Unified School District. The partnership came about as a result of Mayor Dick Murphy's Clean Water Taskforce, and their prioritizing education as a means to improve water quality. Jennifer has collaborated on the design and implementation of curriculum for elementary students in grades K, 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 grades at 130 schools in San Diego Unified School District schools and in 5th grade classrooms in 17 Oceanside Unified School District schools, reaching more than 50,000 children annually.
Innovator in Education: Anne Fege, Ph.D., MBA – Children and Nature Network
Anne Fege is the co-founder and current chair of the San Diego Children and Nature Collaborative (SDCaN), which has a mission of inspiring communities to nurture, empower, and engage youth in cultivating their relationship with nature. Some projects that have been funded by SDCaN include: nearby nature school field trips pilot program, fourth grade curriculum for chaparral and shrub lands (currently being pilot tested along with localizing standards based curriculum for local ecosystems), family nature clubs, learning workshops, a SDCaN communications strategy, design of an interactive website, research on factors influencing adults’ decisions about children’s nature activities, community asset inventories to reflect community diversity and increased opportunities for children learning in nature and playing outdoors.
In 2007, Anne helped the San Diego Audubon Society start Outdoor Explore a program that provides after-school programs at more than 15 locations including nature walks and nature experiences, more physical exercise, familiarity with nature, observational skills and imagination, and neighborhood “sense of place,” led by the San Diego Audubon Society. Anne is highly regarded among local conservation professionals and has become a local expert and providing leadership in wildfire recovery, fuel/vegetation management, and local plant biodiversity since she moved here from the East Coast in 1991.
Community Partner: Math for America & Fellows – Barbara Edwards, Executive Director
For the past three years, Math For America Fellows have taken the challenge from SDSA - BE WiSE as well as their Executive Director, Barbara Edwards, to design and deliver a BE WiSE Alumnae Workshop. The first year 8th and 9th grade alumnae learned about the math behind Soduku, the math behind Origami and Caesar's Cypher. Year two, an advanced workshop for BE WiSE 10th, 11th grade alumnae was added where girls learned about the math behind Ken Ken, Quizzler puzzles, and Rubik's cube. This year, a new group of Math Fellows designed the 8th & 9th grade workshop around logic games and world exploration where girls looked at cities around the world, using weighted statistics to see where you’d like to live/visit. The BE WiSE alumnae were well aware that the Fellows / Presenters really love math and find so many ways to use it in everyday life - thus providing great role models for the BE WiSE alumnae.
The 2011 Partnership Awards Nominees:
Innovator in Education:
Christina Trecha – Nominated for her exceptional work in providing Professional Development opportunities to teachers. She was described as an excellent problem solver, a team player, and a positive force with a “can do” attitude.
Heather Peterson – Nominated for her work in creating UC/CSU-approved science curricula infused with health and medical applications for the Grossmont Union High School District. She was described as passionate for improving education, student outcomes, and supplying a prepared, future workforce that will fill gaps in healthcare organizations.
Sustainable Program:
Vista Community Clinic – Nominated for their work with area school districts to enhance health science education and fill health career pipelines for low-income minority students. VCC has long-term, strong relationships with local school districts from the Superintendent level down through the school counselors and teachers. There are now 150+ functioning program-school site relationships between VCC and local schools.
Company Partner:
J. Craig Venter Institute – The Venter Institute's Discover Genomics program has worked to educate middle school teachers in the Biosciences. They continue to work on a potential mobile laboratory and provide loaner lab materials. Bench to classroom programs are providing students with cutting edge research opportunities through teacher education and internships.
Sharp Chula Vista Hospital, Dr. Omid Bakhtar – Nominated for his coordination of Sharp’s first-time involvement in the 2011 HTF. He developed an exceptional pathology display and secured staff to work the booth with him. He spent time harvesting and preserving "real" body organs to share with the students, brought in his own microscope from work and TV from home so that students could look through the slides.
Community Partner:
Reuben H. Fleet Science Center / Christina Trecha – Nominated for providing exceptional Professional Development in Science to teachers. Christina is partnering with many organizations to increase their effectiveness and exemplifies what creative and strategic partnership in science education should be.
Administrator:
Blanca Arias – Nominated for her work in developing the necessary partnerships that drive the thriving Interlink Pathways program. Interlink develops and supports healthcare academies and programs while also creating active partnerships that immerse students in the health care experience.
Teacher:
Laura Barker - A middle school teacher nominated for her passion for teaching science using technology, and collaboration with feeder high schools to increase her ability to better prepare students for high school science.
Tracy Rabasco – Tracy is an emphatic, progressive educator who makes science relevant to society in an innovative and hands-on style. Students connect science to such events as the Iditorod race in Alaska, to the recent devastation of earthquake, tsunami, and radioactive powers in Japan.
Paula Delgado – Passionate about teaching, Paula goes above and beyond in working with the community on San Diego Harbor clean up day with her students, taking them to Catalina Island for three days on a marine-biology exploration trip, volunteering with her students for the San Diego Science Festival (demonstrating their mini-submersibles).
Darci Kimball – A skilled and dedicated teacher, Darci has been instrumental in the development of contextualized curricula for middle and high school Health Career Pathway programs. This includes a UC/CSU-approved "lab science" Medical Chemistry, as well as a STEM-infused Physical Science for 8th graders.
Franz Ruiz – Franz has been instrumental in leading his team of high school science teachers to actively engage students with writing to learn strategies that make meaning of science. With interactive notebooks, graphic organizers, "think-pair-share" speaking, listening and writing activities, El Cajon Valley students have steadily increased their proficient and above scores on the California Standardized Tests the last three years.
Volunteer:
James Skelley – Nominated for his work as a Botball mentor for several teams during the 2011 Botball season. He has been at High Tech High International nearly every Saturday of the 6 week season where he makes himself available to any and all teams working there. His positive attitude encourages and motivates students.
Jeanne Urbankek – Nominated for her 6+ years of dedication in volunteering for BE WiSE Overnight preparation tasks. She is their "artistic generous nametag guru".
Dr. Lisa Yon – As a community college professor for over 20 years, Dr. Yon has seen the gradual decline of student achievement in science. It didn't take her long to figure out that the change she wanted to see at the college level required her involvement at the elementary level. As a result, she has been directly involved in creating the kind of K-12 environment--one of directly supporting high teaching standards and parent involvement--that produces the well-prepared science students that she would like to see in her college classroom.
It takes effort and dedication of individuals to improve STEM learning for our kids. Thank you all for your investment in tomorrow’s future.
