Hector Ibarra
West Branch Middle School
Iowa City, IA

"Born in a one room school house… my mother a school teacher…..one could say I was born with teaching in my blood. But I was born in Mexico, coming to the United States when I was 5 years old. I was fortunate in that my parents came to a steady job. My family didn't move crop-to-crop, season-to-season as so many Mexican families do. At a time before English as a second language was offered in school, I was in danger of failing in the school system. Were it not for my fourth grade teacher, Ms Myrtle Olson, I am sure I would have continued to struggle, with little true learning occurring. By the end of the year I had a solid grasp of the English language. I can never sufficiently express my appreciation for the time she took with me. Perhaps this was the start of my interest in becoming a teacher."

"Hector is a unique person whose collaboration with teachers is not only in the school he teaches, but more importantly at the district, state, national and international levels. He realizes the importance of providing opportunities for his students but also students and teachers in other classrooms as well as collaborating with businesses and community members."

Walk into Hector's classroom and you find a beehive of activity and discussion as "young scientists" perform investigations. Simultaneously they are developing understanding of science concepts. Hector believes that students learn best by "doing" and that new learning builds upon past learning and experiences. Students answer "I think" questions about each investigation. I do not tell them an idea is right or wrong. This approach helps students learn there may be many views, some commonly shared as well as others they never thought possible.

Other Highlights:

• Ph.D. Candidate ABD; University of Iowa.
• Facilitates weather graduate course, DataStreme. The project was a 5 year NSF teacher enhancement initiative of the American Meteorological Society and is funded by the NOAA. 1996 to present
• Developed & presented Short Courses for the 1992, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2002, & 2003 NSTA Conventions; 100+ presentations
• Organized & coordinated PLESE (1992) and TIOS (1993) team of teachers, administrators, & professors from Iowa
• Board of Trustees, National Teachers Hall of Fame, 2002-2005
• President APAST 2000-2002; President NMLSTA, 1997-98; NSTA Board of Directors, 1997
• NMLSTA Board of Directors, 1993-96; NSTA Committee for Middle Level Education, 1992-94 & 1997
• Author--Solar Powered Racers: Racing with the Sun. Articles published in Science Scope, Science Teacher, Connect, Middle Ground, & AMS Bulletin
• Over 50 grant proposals accepted. Solar car grant has provided opportunities for over 20,000 Iowa middle school students to be involved in the project since 1995
• NSTA Distinguished Teaching Award, 2001; State Farm Good Neighbor national award, 2000
• West Branch Chamber of Commerce Community Member of the Year award, 1999
• Governor's Community Involvement and Leadership Award, 1993
• National runner up in eCybermission award. Governor's (Iowa) Environmental Excellence award, 2002
• Semifinalist in Bayer NSF Community Issues Award program, 2002, 2001, & 1998
• EPA President's Environmental Youth Award, 2003, 1997, & 1993
• Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching, 1993; Milken National Educators Award, 1993
• 1997 program cited by President Clinton in his address on Global Climate Change.
• United States Dept. of Energy Best in Category National Award for Energy Education, 1996
• Sea World's A Pledge-Promise Environmental Award and Ohaus award for Innovations in Middle Level Science program, 1994
• Fulbright Memorial Fund Master Teacher Program, 2003-present; US WEST Outstanding Teacher Program, 1993
• Christa McAuliffe Fellowship, USA TODAY Teacher 1st Team, Runner up for Iowa Teacher of the Year, 2002
• Governor's (Iowa) Environmental Excellence leadership award, 2000; Who's Who (2000-1998, 1995-'94)
• EPA Environmental Educator of the Year Award (Iowa), 2000; Alliance to Save Energy Star Award, 1996
• Inducted - National Teachers Hall of Fame, 1998 & recipient of Chemical Manufacturers Assoc. National Catalyst award, 2000
• Fulbright Memorial Fund Study Abroad, Japan, 1997; Fulbright Study Abroad fellowship, Russia, 1992
• National Wildlife Federation Conservation Educator of the Year, 1996
• NAGT Iowa State Outstanding Earth Science Teacher, an Iowa Renewable Energy Leadership Award, 1994
• Iowa Academy of Science Excellence in Science Teaching Award, 1991
• Selected to explain to President Bush NASA's LASER unit, 1990
• Consultant for NRC; grant reviewer 1993 Eisenhower Program for Science Education State Curriculum Frameworks
• National judge: Duracell, Discovery Young Scientist Challenge, and Marteka awards
• Member of NSTA, APAST, AMS, NMLSTA, IAS, Pi Lambda Theta, & NEA