Temecula Teacher Finalist For National Honors

A Temecula Valley High School science teacher has been selected as a finalist from California for the  2011-2012 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson nominated Ziba Mayar, a biology teacher at Temecula Valley High School, along with five others from the state.

The national winners will be named next year by White House officials. The other science nominees are: Dean Andrew Baird, a physics teacher at Rio Americano High School iin Sacramento County; Ericka Senegar-Mitchell, a biotechnology teacher at Junipero Serra High School in the San Diego Unified School District and

The mathematics nominees are: William Conrad Thill, an Advanced Placement (AP) statistics and calculus teacher at the independent Harvard-Westlake School in North Hollywood, Los Angeles County; Kentaro Iwasaki, a mathematics  teacher and chair of the mathematics Department at Mission High School in the San Francisco Unified School District and Juliana E. Jones, an algebra teacher at Longfellow Magnet Middle School in the Berkeley Unified School District.

 “As a teacher, it is my honor to recognize these educators and the work they are doing to inspire students in mathematics and science, and prepare them for success in our technology-driven economy,” said Torlakson, a science teacher-on-leave from Contra Costa County’s Mount Diablo Unified School District.

“All six nominees have demonstrated a deep understanding of their respective disciplines.”

Each applicant had to demonstrate a mastery of math or science, the appropriate use of instructional methods and strategies, effective use of assessment strategies, employ life-long learning, and show leadership in education outside the classroom.

Each candidate was also required to submit a 45-minute video lesson in support of their applications

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.

PAEMST is the highest recognition that a kindergarten through 12th grade math or science teacher may receive for outstanding teaching in the United States.

PAEMST was created by Congress in 1983 and authorizes the President each year to bestow up to 108 awards to math and science teachers from each of the 50 states and four U.S. jurisdictions, including Washington, D.C.; Puerto Rico; Department of Defense Schools; and the U.S. territories. PAEMST awards primary and secondary teachers in alternate years.

Since the program’s inception, 82 California teachers have been named PAEMST recipients. For more information about PAEMST, please visit the California Department of Education’s (CDE) Web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/pa/.