SVEC Keeper Of The Flame

Marie Ciano has been teaching for over thirty years. Her assignments have included Physics, Advanced Placement (AP) Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Physical Science, Earth Science, Algebra, Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, General Mathematics, and Art. She has taught at every level from a 2nd and 3rd grade gifted and talented science program to junior college physical science. Teaching was her chosen profession. She has wanted to teach from the time she took her first science class in junior high school. In high school Marie was a member of Future Teachers of America, and went on to the State University of New York at Stony Brook, where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

To prepare herself for teaching she took a diverse and rigorous array of mathematics and science courses, including calculus, physics, chemistry and biology. When it came to education courses, she didn’t have much patience with the ambiguous content, going so far as to convince her advisor to let her substitute a computer-programming course for an education requirement.

Marie’s goal has always been to pass on her knowledge to her students. She steadfastly refuses to veer from her core principle that only the highest standards of course content be permitted in her classroom. Marie was appalled when the current wave of anti-content curricula hit the California schools. Reacting to the difficulty that some students have in understanding math and science, the new reformers radically altered course content rather than the method of delivery. Substantive courses in Algebra, Geometry and Algebra II were replaced by the inappropriately named “College Preparatory Mathematics,” or CPM, courses, and a low-level survey program called “Integrated Science” took the place of rigorous courses in Physical Science and Biology. Here Marie drew the line, refusing to teach anti-content courses, instead substituting texts mandated by her school district with more traditional materials. When physics students displayed limited skills in science and mathematics, she realized that her personal classroom efforts were not enough. So Marie managed, with great difficulty, to be appointed as a member of the district curriculum committee.

While a member of the committee, she helped to orchestrate the demise of the defective CPM program at Antioch High School by preparing a comprehensive presentation showing that CPM was not just a difference in philosophy, but rather a significant alteration in content. As a result of Marie’s efforts, her school has abandoned the flawed CPM program, and Algebra and Geometry courses have been re-instituted. In a similar manner, she played a key role in ousting the watered-down Integrated Science program and restoring the more substantive Physical Science and Biology courses. She wrote the 9th grade science curriculum for Antioch School District and introduced AP Physics to her district. Perhaps Marie’s greatest accomplishment in the face of such adversity is maintaining an excitement for teaching and not losing sight of her lifelong goal of passing on knowledge.

Mr. Bruce Kawanami: Keeper Of The Flame Award Recipient for 2002

Here is Bruce (center) accepting his award from SVEC President Dr. Steven Kang of UC Santa Cruz (left) and SVEC Education Director Seth Bates from San Jose State University (right).