Encore! (Applauded Again)

My best estimate is that their was a switch in the reporter tasked with writing the "Applause" potpourri. In any case, my PAEMST recognition was applauded again in the Sacramento Bee's standing accolade column.

Applause for October 29, 2012

Kudos to: Dean Baird, Rio Americano High School physics teacher

Accomplishment: Received a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

Details: Baird received his certificate in Washington, D.C., in June. It is the highest honor the U.S. government can bestow on a K-12 science teacher, according to a San Juan Unified School district e-newsletter story.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/29/4944782/applause.html#storylink=cpy

The previous Applause mention is documented in this post.

The Shoulders of Giants

While at the CSTA's annual conference in San Jose this weekend, I got the chance to prepare a page I've been thinking about.

California 7-12 Science PAEMST Awardees: 1983-2011

I was nominated by 1989's Steven Keith. I work with him and with 1987's Paul Robinson on PTSOS. I knew the late Andria Erzberger (1991) as a colleague; we actually rode a roller coaster together at Great America once upon a time. I barely knew 1983's Art Farmer.

Of course I color-coded the table. Green for biology/life science teachers. Blue for Earth science/environment teachers. Orange for chemistry teachers. Purple for physics teachers. Yellow for middle school/everything/technology teachers. Gray is for those I haven't figured out yet. I think I met Linda Dixon and I really should know what she taught.

Turns out that among the 25, I'm painfully typical. Physics teachers dominate, although it had been a while since the last one (1997). And Sacramento! I'm the third awardee from the capital. The fourth, really (Orangevale is Sacramento—just out far enough to still have roosters announcing the sunrise every day).

CSTA 2012 Awards Breakfast

The California Department of Education has covered my California Science Teachers Association conference registration and the CSTA is (again) treating me to breakfast.

CSTA2012/San Jose - Awards Breakfast: Saturday, October 20 at 7:30am.

Last year, I traveled to Pasadena to take part in this event. I posted details and photographs here. It appears I failed to mention that I met up with my brother, Tom, and his wife while I was in SoCal, and that I borrowed a tie from him as I left all mine in Sacramento.

SacBee education blog: Report Card

The Sacramento Bee's Melody Gutierrez and Diana Lambert have a blog devoted to local schools. It's called Report Card. Ms. Gutierrez posted a note about my selection as a PAEMST national finalist.

Rio Americano teacher wins coveted science award