NCGS Teacher of the Year Award
The NCGS has occasionally granted a Teacher of the Year (TOTY) award to a local K-12 teacher who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the field of geoscience education.
The winner receives a cash award of $1000, and their entry is submitted in the American Association of Petroleum Geologists national and Pacific Section contests, where they are eligible to win further awards.
2019-2020
The TOTY Award of $1000 went to Toshimi Fujikawa (BA, UC Davis) of Arroyo High School, San Lorenzo, CA. Her NGSS-designed lessons incorporate class discussions, activities and group work to ensure the material is accessible to all students. She follows a systems approach that combines geologic, chemical, physical and biological principles. Her Geology course is a UC-approved high school course that fulfills the A-G Subject Requirement of D Laboratory Science. Her materials address the California Standards well, focusing on critical concepts that enable her students to think geologically while studying Earth systems. She continually seeks materials that increase student interest.
2018-2019
The TOTY Award of $1000 went to Mikko Michael Bojarskyis (MS) of Credo High School in Rohnert Park, CA. Mr. Bojarskyis’s courses combine Earth sciences with planetary science and astronomy. They include units on plate tectonics, geophysics, mineralogy, structural geology and stratigraphic geology through lectures, labs and field trips.
2014-2015
The TOTY Award of $750 went to Molly Shaw Deich of New Brighton Middle School in Capitola, CA
2012-2013
The TOTY Award of $750 went to Chung Sinn Khong of Yerba Buena High School in San Jose, CA.
2010-2011
The TOTY Award of $750 went to Heather Marshall of Ann Sobrato High School in Morgan Hill, CA. Her yearlong Geology/Earth Science course, which includes labs and exercises, covers the spectrum from astronomy to energy & climate to geology & oceanography to weather. Ms. Marshall graduated from CSU Hayward with a B.S. in Geology and has an MS in Science Education from the University of Texas. She worked with the Energy Resources Team at the U.S. Geological Survey for two years before becoming a high school science teacher in 2001. She holds a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Geoscience/Earth Science and is working for a second MS, in Teachers in Geosciences, at Mississippi State. After winning this honor, she went on to become the Pacific Section AAPG Teacher of the Year.
2006-2007
The TOTY Award of $750 went to Pierre de St. Croix of Harvest Park Middle School in Pleasanton, CA.
2004-2005
The TOTY Award of $750 went to Chaiwat Neokul of Chinese Christian School in San Leandro, CA. Mr. Neokul teaches sixth grade Earth science and ninth grade physical science from a curriculum including units on minerals and mineral resources. He has also been a teacher of physics. Mr. Neokul earned his B.S. in 2001 from Pensacola Christian College.
2001-2002
The TOTY Award of $500 went to Joan Carter of Branham High School in San Jose, CA. Her Earth Science
course is based on California science content standards, presents concepts in the context of Problem Based
Learning exercises, incorporates web-based technology and resources, and is fine-tuned by student feedback. The unit includes field outings to the Almaden Quicksilver Park. Her work has helped lead her school to recogniation as a California Distinguished School and a U.S. Blue Ribbon School.
1998-1999
The TOTY Award of $200 went to Margaret Klim of Webster Academy in Oakland, CA.
1997-1998
The TOTY Award of $200 went to Ursula Sexton of Green Valley Elementary School in Danville, CA.