I covered the announcement of California's PAEMST state finalists on my Blog of Phyz.
Here's the link.
There was also an article in The Carmichael Patch.
I'll confess it was encouraging and discouraging to learn of my fellow nominees in science. Encouraging to know about such great science teachers working in California. Discouraging in that I was in competition with such great California teachers to earn national recognition.
I'm not making this up. Look at this video about Serra High School's Ericka Senegar-Mitchell!
How awesome is that?
Here's what the Temecula Patch had to say about Ziba Mayar:
http://temecula.patch.com/articles/temecula-teacher-finalist-for-national-honors
Here are the descriptions that were included in the CDE's press release:
"[Dean] Baird has taught physics, computer science and electronics, and physical science since 1986 at Rio Americano High School. He is the recipient of numerous local, state, and national recognition awards and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from the University of Michigan and a Master of Science degree in instructional leadership in curriculum and instruction from National University. Baird presented his "Why the Sky is Blue" video that actively explores a variety of alternative explanations through experimentation, demonstration, and discussion.
[Ericka] Senegar-Mitchell has taught biology and biotechnology courses since 2007 at Junipero Serra High School. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry from Loyola Marymount University, a second Bachelor of Science in biology from the California State University, Dominguez Hills; a teaching credential in biological sciences and chemistry from California State University, Fullerton; and a Master of Arts and a Doctorate in Education Psychology from Chapman University. Senegar-Mitchell is San Diego Unified's 2010 High School Teacher of the Year, a San Diego County Teacher of the Year, and a finalist for the California Teacher of the Year. Her video was a laboratory-based lesson focused on mammalian cell culture techniques.
[Ziba] Mayar has taught high school biology courses since 2001 at Temecula Valley High School. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from San Diego State University and was selected as the 2011 Riverside County Science Teacher of the Year. Her video focused on DNA re-combination and used student coaches to instruct and support the learning of other students."
