April 30, 1999
James D. Dieckmann, Fifth-Sixth Grade Teacher and Library Media Specialist at Clear View Charter School, was selected by a committee of his peers to represent the District as Teacher of the Year for 1999-2000. The announcement was made by Superintendent Dr. Libia S. Gil at the April 20, 1999 meeting of the Board of Education.
Classroom Connect recently selected Dieckmann to be part of the Galapagos Quest Educational Expedition Team. In March 1999, he assisted scientists and naturalists in their search for origins of some of the most fascinating plants and animals on earth and investigated threats to Galapagos wildlife using the Quest model of Internet-delivered, interdisciplinary teaching.
"Jim Dieckmann's teaching is a gift to his students, our District, and now the world," stated Dr. Gil. "His innovation in the classrooms is a model of excellence for all of us. We are extremely proud of him and share in the happiness of his success. We know that he has raised the bar for all teachers and look forward to his competition at the San Diego County Officer of Education's 1999-2000 Teacher of the Year competition."
Mr. Dieckmann, an educator for 25 years, has taught grades four through seven in California, El Salvador, and as a Fulbright Exchange teacher in England. As the first Science Resource Teacher at the Chula Vista Nature Center, his belief that hands-on science is the key to building interest and success for students resulted in a wetland education program which has been presented to more than 21,000 students and their teachers. He also adapted and published a "Living in the Salt Marsh" curriculum for sixth graders to provide hands-on lessons and field studies.
When Dieckmann left the Nature Center to each at Clear View Charter School, he pursued his vision that technology is a tool to bring the outside world into the classroom. His students use a fiber-optic connection with San Diego State University, viewing scientific investigations and interacting on-line using an electron microscope. His fifth graders were featured on Learn and Live, a video production of the George Lucas Foundation, which highlights innovations in education. Dieckmann has served as a Fellow of this Foundation since June 1997. Recently, he was honored by the San Diego Science Educators with a Spectacular Teachers Achieving Results (STAR) Society Award from Classroom Connect for his efforts to bring the Internet into classrooms across America. He also finds time to lead the Safety Patrol, serve on the School Site Council, chair the Technology Committee, and coach a soccer team!
Return
to Frontpage