Certificates and a Postal Mutilation

I received this certificate from the California Department of Education shortly after the phone call from Tom Torlakson in June, 2011.

I received this certificate from the Council of State Science Supervisors in July.

I displayed the one from from the CDE on my Wall of Ego. But the one from CSSS, though lovely and appreciated, seemed redundant. So I kept it in a safe place.

The one from the CDE was preceded by a letter. Like anyone else, I get a lot of postal mail. Most of it bearing little interest or personal value. Lots of mail. The one letter I ever got from Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson? Mutilated:

About 20% of the letter was torn off and gone. Eaten by a sorting machine, perhaps. 

Imagine if were into superstition or omens! I'm sure I would have given up on any prospects of advancement at that point.

2011 PAEMST State Finalists in Science

I believe this list at the Council of State Science Supervisors (CSSS) was posted in late August, 2011.

http://www.csss-science.org/awards.shtml

It's not an easy list to find. If there is a path from CSSS' home page to this page, I couldn't find it. (That doesn't mean it's not there.)

I was delighted to see a few familiar names on the list. I knew of New York's Frank Noschese. He plays chess while I play checkers. He's a deep thinker on physics teaching and is a passionate proponent of Modeling Instruction. I also know Colorado's Patricia Loeblein. She is a central mover and shaker at PhET. She authors PhET-based curriculum and is a tireless advocate for PhET. I worked the PhET booth with her at NSTA/San Francisco last year.

I probably knew others on the list from conferences or other projects, and there were others I should have known. But as much as I struggle to keep track of my own details, I sometimes lose track...