News Release

May 6, 2010

Garza named County Teacher of Year

“To this day, I still enjoy making observations or finding science in the world around me. Teaching science allows me to share this delight with my students.”

“Taking home science fosters the notion that science can be done outside of the science classroom, and promotes conversations of science with family members. Many of the demonstrations that I use in the classroom involve materials that can be found at home, and I encourage students to repeat the demonstrations at home to their families. It is a great way for students to reinforce the content and build confidence and pride in their knowledge.” —Marilyn Garza

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Marilyn Garza, an eighth grade science teacher at Santa Barbara Junior High School, was named 2010-11 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year. The announcement was made by County Superintendent of Schools Bill Cirone at a press conference convened at the regular monthly meeting of the County Board of Education on May 6. Garza will become the county’s official representative on July 1.

Garza, one of a number of outstanding countywide nominees for the honor, was selected by a committee including former teachers, administrators, PTAs, and school board members. Distinguished Educators were also named and will be announced at the June board meeting.

Superintendent Cirone expressed congratulations for Garza’s professionalism, enthusiasm, creativity, and remarkable successes inside and outside the classroom and in the community. In addition to being named Teacher of the Year, Garza had been a recipient of the prestigious Milken Educator Award, received three Teachers Network disseminator grants, and was named a county Distinguished Educator.

Garza earned her bachelor of arts degree in materials science engineering from University of California at Berkeley and her masters of education degree and teaching credential from UC Santa Barbara.

Prior to teaching, Garza worked as an engineer. She now teaches eighth grade physical science and math.

She has served as a BTSA mentor for beginning teachers, mentoring eight first- and second-year science teachers for 11 years. She has been very active in the RET program — Research Experience for Teachers — spending two summers conducting experiments on optical waveguides in the nanotech clean room facility at UCSB, and bringing that experience into her classroom curriculum. As a result, her students have observed and guided laser light through gelatin, did photo masking with solar print paper and ultraviolet light, and chemically etched chalk on eggshells.

She has also taken part in the South Coast Science Institute, GATE training and conferences, and the Science Partnership for School Innovation. She has been recipient of a $1.3 million National Science Foundation GK-12 grant that allowed graduate science students from UCSB to work in her classroom. She also secured a LEAPS National Science Foundation grant (Let’s Explore Applied Physical Science), for which she has been lead teacher at her school. She has served on the STAR Science Content Review Panel, the South Coast Science Project, and has attended conferences regarding closing the achievement gap.

Building on access to UCSB students, she was able to create special events for students and their families, such as Science High, during which students demonstrate various scientific principles to their peers and families; FUSE (Family Ultimate Science Exploration), in which students and families rotate through three hands-on science activities; Mentor Night, when students talk to graduate students about science project ideas; and NanoLEAPS, in which a group of eighth graders are trained to demonstrate concepts they have learned in class and make presentations to elementary students.

Wrote Angela Berenstein, National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN) academic coordinator at UCSB, “I have worked with many teachers over the six years [in this position], including classroom visits, and have never seen a superstar like Marilyn. Marilyn is one of two teachers I have allowed to return for a second year [in the nanotechnology program], and I am currently doing my best to see if I can work with her on an unprecedented third year. Why? Of all the teachers I have ever worked with, Marilyn has an uncanny knack of understanding complicated science, explaining it in simple layman’s terms, and coming up with clever demonstrations and activities that a student uses to give both qualitative and quantitative results…I can honestly say I have never worked with anyone as creative and professional as Marilyn Garza…”

Wrote principal John Becchio: “Marilyn Garza is one of Santa Barbara Junior High School’s most valued teachers…She is a leader among her colleagues, very well-organized and energetic. [She] founded and established family Ultimate Science Exploration (FUSE) Night…In a time when students typically distance themselves from their parents, Mrs. Garza was able to design and implement a program that made students excited about being in class with their parents…Marilyn has a passion for teaching that is unmatched. She spends long hours on her work and is 100% dedicated to her students. She is a teacher that inspires students each and every day…No one is more deserving of this honor.”

Wrote California Nanosystems Institute Education Director Fiona Goodchild: “Marilyn is a remarkable teacher, clear in her expectations, patient in her explanations and encouraging in her feedback on performance. She demonstrates three qualities that have enabled her to make such a positive contribution to science education in Santa Barbara County. The first is her own curiosity and enthusiasm for her subject…Second is her belief that every student can gain from learning science, especially in terms of understanding the world around them…a third asset is her vision of how to integrate scientific researchers into K-12 school programs…In my role as an education director, I have worked with over 50 teachers in the last 12 years and I regard Marilyn as one of the most creative, an exemplary professional who is committed to finding ways to motivate students and inspire colleagues…She is a natural leader and a wonderful model for the teaching profession.”

Garza’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 2011 National Teacher of the Year.

As Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year, Garza will be available to speak countywide, and can be reached at Santa Barbara Junior High, 963-7751, ext. 117, or at the County Education Office, by calling Petti Pfau at 964-4710, ext. 5281.