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“Four
words form my personal guidelines for a great classroom environment:
varied, safe, intellectually stimulating.” So wrote Peggy Lubchenco,
a seventh grade science teacher at La Colina Junior High in Santa Barbara,
who was named this year’s Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year.
Lubchenco, one of a number of outstanding countywide nominees for the
honor, was selected by a committee including representatives of teachers,
administrators, PTAs, and school boards.
Each year the county Teacher of the Year is a truly outstanding teacher
and human being. Each one brings different skills and passions to the
table. Last year’s county teacher of the year, Chris Mullin of
Santa Ynez High School, was subsequently named a California Teacher
of the Year.
Like Mullin before her, Lubchenco has held several positions outside
the field of education. She holds a B.A. in environmental science from
Colorado College and a master’s degree in ecology and evolution
from Brown University.
She worked as a research assistant with Oregon State University at the
Smithsonian in Panama, and served as a fisheries biologist for both
the Oregon and California Departments of Fish and Game. She has worked
as a laboratory technician at Stanford University and as a science editor
for Intellimation Computer Software Company.
Asked recently why she chose teaching as a profession when, with her
scientific experience, she had the obvious ability to work in a number
of arenas, her characteristic smile turned very serious and she said,
quite simply, “Because it’s important.” It’s clear
she means it, and the students in her classrooms are clearly the better
for her dedication and passion.
Her awards and honors have been numerous. She was named AAPG California
Earth Science Teacher of the Year K-12 and National Earth Science Teacher
of the Year. She has served as her district’s Earth Science Mentor
Teacher. She also served as a delegate of the U.S. State Department
at the Munich Olympic Games; was named a member of the Alpha Lambda
Delta Scholastic Honor Society; and was a member of the National Masters
Swimming Team Champions. She was named Outstanding Teacher in Marina.
She was named a GLOBE National Teacher Trainer as well.
Grants she has written have totaled more than $68,000. She has also
presented seminars and workshops on marine biology, computer technology
in the classroom, life sciences, and earth sciences.
Her community involvement involves her roles as wife, mother, and teacher.
She has been a Girl Scout Leader, has assisted the swim team, and helped
run water polo matches. She has taken part in PTSA events at a wide
range of schools and has been involved with fund-raising as well. She
has organized field trips to Martha’s Vineyard, Yosemite, Figueroa
Mountain, Sedgwick Ranch Reserve, Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes, and local
Santa Barbara beaches.
She also volunteers as a guest speaker for student teacher classes at
UCSB.
Lubchenco’s nomination will next be reviewed for consideration
as California Teacher of the Year in the fall. The California winner
will then proceed into consideration for 2004 National Teacher of the
Year.
As Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year, Lubchenco will be available
to speak countywide, and can be reached at La Colina Junior High School
in the Santa Barbara High School District at 967-4506, or at the County
Education Office, by calling Carol Gregor at 964-4711, ext. 5281. She
is an outstanding spokesperson for public education in our county and
we congratulate her on this well-deserved honor.
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