CSTA logo
California Science Teachers Association California Science Teachers Association California Science Teachers Association California Science Teachers Association California Science Teachers Association

Award Winners

Margaret Nicholson Distinguished Service Award:

Dean Gilbert

Many of our members are familiar with the passion and drive with which Dean Gilbert works for the improvement of science education in California. Not only does he work hard, he has been successful as well. The letters of recommendation for Dean were numerous and glowing. It is for these reasons and many more that Dean Gilbert was selected at the winner of the 2012 Margaret Nicholson Distinguished Service Award. Here are a few excerpts:

Dean has been in the field of education for 38 years. He exemplifies the true meaning of the word "educator". He served as president of CSTA and is, or has been, the guiding force behind most of the state's growth in the field of science education. He was also instrumental in developing the state's high school integrated science education curriculum.

Dean has been instrumental in providing statewide leadership in the field of science education. His knowledge of how students learn and what instructional strategies work has impressed me.

I consider Dean to be one of California's finest educational resources.

CSTA Future Science Teacher Award:

Josiah Jones has a BS in Environmental Studies and a BS in Physical Geography from UC Santa Barbara. He completed his student teaching at Wilson Classical High School in Long Beach Unified School District teaching environmental science and oceanography. A quick perusal of Josiah’s resume will show you that he is a student who has done much more than simply complete a degree program and earn a credential. He looks to get involved in professional development opportunities and is eager to use what he has learned in the classroom.

Josiah is an eager and highly dedicated educator. As a Noyce scholar, he was a constant contributor in our seminar discussions and he showed his passion for teaching through thoughtful questions and comments. He is clearly a caring individual and I am confident that he will be an asset to any school that he becomes a part of as well as to the teaching profession. I can recommend him highly for the CSTA future teacher award. - Anna Brochet, Robert Noyce Scholars Program Coordinator, SAS Center at CSULB.

In my twenty-five years of teaching, Josiah is one of the most outstanding if not the most outstanding student teachers I've had the pleasure to work with. His energy and enthusiasm are quite impressive. He constantly threw himself wholeheartedly into his assignment and tirelessly went above and beyond the call of duty to attend extracurricular activities to the delight of his students. His rapport with students and vast knowledge of the subject matter ensure me that he will be a tremendous asset to the teaching profession. He will be sorely missed by me, my fellow staff, and his students. I look forward to following his successful career in the future. - Steve Willie, Master Teacher, Wilson Classical High School.

Congratulations Josiah on your accomplishment, it is with pleasure that CSTA recognizes you as the 2012 Future Science Teacher of the Year. The $1,000 prize that accompanies this award is provided by SeaWorld San Diego. We thank them for their contribution.