2010 Elementary Science Awardee Anne Marie Bergen
Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science 2010 Awardee.Anne Marie Bergen
Elementary Science Awardee
“The Presidential Award acknowledges and honors the power of engaging, minds-on learning that leads students to uncover their own understandings of the world: active learning, meaningful experiences, compassionate teaching, cooperative groups, hands-on lab experiences. It validates my professional life’s work that has been devoted to students, teachers, and parents in my educational community who now see science as important, integral, and imperative for student success. What an incredible honor!”
Anne Marie Bergen’s teaching philosophy, “Active Learning, Meaningful Experiences, Compassionate Teaching,” is her foundation to engage students and teachers actively with the world around them.
Anne Marie discovered the natural connection students have for experiential learning at Foothill Horizons Outdoor School, leading environmental classes for sixth grade students. Her 22 years in Oakdale elementary schools included serving as Gifted and Talented Teacher/Coordinator, Science Mentor, Science Olympiad Coach, and District Science Fair Coordinator. As District Science Teacher, she created a laboratory and field-based science program for 2,000 students and 120 teachers annually. This year, she is on loan as Teacher in Residence, College of Science and Mathematics, California Polytechnic State University (CPSU), San Luis Obispo, improving undergraduate biology courses for elementary teachers.
Her honors include CPSU commencement speaker, Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence, and California Teacher of the Year 2003. Her grants include From River Tap, Salmon Project, and Passport to Science. She is chair of CalTAC, a STEM teaching advisory council.
Anne Marie has a B.S. is in biology from CPSU, multiple subject credentials from Chapman, and an M.A. in educational leadership from St. Mary’s.