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AIDA ROSENBAUMRegents Earth Science, AP Environmental Science Bronx Latin School |
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JARED FOXEnvironmental Science, Climate Science Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School (WHEELS) |
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LISA SAN MARTINAlgebra I, Pre-Calculus The Queens School of Inquiry (QSI) |
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LORI BODNERAlgebra II, AP Calculus BC Brooklyn Technical High School |
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RACHEL MANCINIAP Chemistry, Regents Chemistry Tottenville High School |
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ROBIN NORWICHRegents Physics, AP Physics Bayside High School |
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ZACH KORZYKPre-Calculus, AP calculus, AP Computer Science Manhattan Village Academy (MVA) |
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Sloan Award Winning Science Teachers Honored at Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball Drop |
AIDA ROSENBAUM
Regents Earth Science, AP Environmental Science Bronx Latin SchoolA graduate of Bronx High School of Science and Mount Holyoke College with experience working at the Biosphere 2 in Arizona, Aida Rosenbaum decided to become a teacher 16 years ago as matter of social justice. Since Ms. Rosenbaum arrived at Bronx Latin four years ago, she has transformed the school's science department with over 90 percent of all students passing the Regents earth science exam. But of equal importance to her is helping her students know themselves. She teaches them how to explore their values, worldviews, and aspirations. She does this as one 25 teachers nationwide selected to teach the QUESTion project. A current senior at Bronx Latin says, "Ms. Rosenbaum didn't just prepare me for college, she prepared me for my future. And not just me. She makes all her students think about what really matters. What is going to make us happy and proud to have done something worthwhile with our lives?"
JARED FOX
Environmental Science, Climate Science Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School (WHEELS)Jared Fox is a master teacher in a school built on the foundations of expeditionary learning. His classroom walls are but the starting line for scientific exploration. His environmental science course is dedicated almost entirely to one subject: water. Dr. Fox's capacity for collaboration allows his students to work first-hand on environmentally important assignments. His students are found in waders collecting water samples in the Bronx River, touring the Catskills, building models of aqueducts, and assisting scientists to assess the health of the New York harbor. From this work, his students acquire the tools necessary to become activists in their own neighborhoods. A colleague notes, "His students are able to make things happen that you would never imagine would be possible for high school science students." Their current vision is to create a "Clean Air Green Corridor" from Highbridge Park to Broadway along 182nd street.
LISA SAN MARTIN
Algebra I, Pre-Calculus The Queens School of Inquiry (QSI)Lisa San Martin is described as "a great teacher who changes lives" at QSI, which serves a diverse population of recent immigrants. Ms. San Martin is a master at calibrating her classes to meet the individual needs of each student. A former student Zalal Ahmed noted there is no escape from her caring and attention. "I have always been good at math, which meant I could often coast through classes. No way with Ms. San Martin. She kept challenging me every second." Ms. San Martin coaches other math teachers at a CUNY institute, where a professor says, "She is held in such high esteem; she is not only helping to develop future teachers, she's creating the standard for them to live up to." As for Mr. Ahmed, who thought he wanted to be a math professor, he now says he wants to be a high school teacher to bring the same passion and connection into the classroom that Ms. San Martin does.
LORI BODNER
Algebra II, AP Calculus BC Brooklyn Technical High SchoolMs. Bodner teaches at NYC's largest high school, Brooklyn Tech, where she has redefined rigor in the classroom and created a culture that is exciting and demanding in equal measure. From the moment she joined Brooklyn Tech, she has helped transform it. Her students emerge both as masters of content and as mathematicians. A former student says, "Math is daunting. But she was just so excited about it when she was teaching it. She gave me a real love of math and the courage and confidence to pursue it." Her influence goes beyond Brooklyn Tech. She contributes to calculus textbooks, creates videos for DeltaMath, developed a platform where 100-plus calculus teachers can find lessons and problems, and has run professional development for hundreds of teachers. It is not just her passion, however, that distinguishes her, it is also her concern for her students. One student who missed class because of family illness relates, "Ms. Bodner called and email me often and then spent hours after school tutoring me. I worked so hard because she cared so much."
RACHEL MANCINI
AP Chemistry, Regents Chemistry Tottenville High SchoolRachel Mancini is a star chemistry teacher at Tottenville High School on Staten Island, which has 3700 students. She attended high school here, where her father has taught chemistry for the last 18 years of his 31 year teaching career. Her natural aptitude for science and leadership were obvious even then. An assistant principal remembers thinking, "If Rachel ever decides to teach, we need to hire her." After college, Ms. Mancini returned to Tottenville to teach chemistry and was soon recognized as a "once-in-a-generation teacher." Successful outcomes are commonplace for Ms. Mancini's students, who may start the year dreading chemistry but grow to love the subject because her classes are interactive, challenging, and rewarding. Ms. Mancini also has a keen ability to reach all of her students. A parent of a special-needs student notes, "Ms. Mancini taught completely personalized lessons to my daughter. She's a mentor and will go above and beyond to see students succeed."
ROBIN NORWICH
Regents Physics, AP Physics Bayside High SchoolAlthough she was a physics major in college, it was only after an 18-year career in the private sector that Robin Norwich finally realized her dream of becoming a physics teacher. Her classes are among the most rigorous, but she supports students at all levels. For those who want review, she is available before, during, and after school both in-person and by email. For those who want a challenge, she helps coordinate school-wide physics competitions. She is not only a master of the material, she is a master at teaching it. In just her third year at Bayside, Ms. Norwich was voted Teacher of the Year and her acceptance speech captured her love of physics and her sense of humor: "I want you to know, each of you, that you all matter. That is, unless you multiply yourselves by the speed of light, then you are all energy. For those of you in my classes who don't get the joke, come see me."
ZACH KORZYK
Pre-Calculus, AP calculus, AP Computer Science Manhattan Village Academy (MVA)Zach Korzyk is a brilliant teacher for the 120 students he sees daily at MVA. He is also a brilliant teacher for the 60,000 teachers and 2.4 million students around the world who have used his DeltaMath platform. Korzyk created DeltaMath to help his algebra II students and now it is used in middle schools, high schools, and colleges everywhere. A colleague, who was one of the first adopters of DeltaMath, says, "It is really hard to understate how revolutionary DeltaMath is. Mr. Korzyk was an extraordinary teacher before DeltaMath; with DeltaMath, he is helping to create equally extraordinary teachers for generations to come." According to his principal, "Mr. Korzyk is one of the most outstanding math teachers I have ever met in my 33-year career in education. He works with students who are initially considered average and they all pass AP exams, go to college, and have successful careers in many fields."
Sloan Award Winning Science Teachers Honored at Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball Drop
