Science Teacher, Bob Jester, Named Educator of the Week/Month

(December 15, 2007 – Riverhead, NY) During the first week of December, RHS science teacher Bob Jester was filmed as a Channel 55 "Teacher of the Week" and photographed and celebrated as a Dowling College/News 12 "Teacher of the Month."

Mr. Jester started his teaching career in Bay Shore in 1971. In 1973 he started his long career as a teacher of biology and general science at Riverhead High School. He received both his BS and hs MS in Biology Education from SUNY Geneseo.

This is the second time Mr. Jester was designated as a "News 12 Teacher of the Month." This time, it was noted that he received the highest ("First Choice") rating with a total score of 87 from the judges who chose the 10 recipients honored by News 12 as Educators of the Month.

The "Attributes" listed for Mr. Jester included:

• Bright, energetic, compassionate, and genuinely cares for his students, colleagues and parents.
• Has devoted some of his time to mentoring teachers with an emphasis on science in the elementary schools.
• Made it possible for Riverhead students to talk to astronauts through the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station program.
• Helped established the district's science fair, qualifying students to participate in the Brookhaven National Laboratory Science Fair.
• In the process of developing a new honors level class called Research Apprenticeship, focusing on students working on research projects under the direction of a research scientist from a neighboring facility.
• Among the first one hundred teachers in the nation to be certified by the National Science teachers as a National Science teacher.
• Received fifth annual Regional Industrial Technical Education Committee Award from the Long Island Forum for Technology.
• Proposed, arranged and coordinated the NAS Special Educational Experiences Designed for Students Project among three schools 25 miles apart using the district's Distance Learning Classroom.
• Conducted a workshop for 150 teachers on the topic of preparing students as they approached the year 2000 entitled, "Pre-Flight Preparation for Lift Off into the 21st Century."
• Listed in Who's Who Among America's Teachers.
• Member of the Science Teachers of NYS, the National Association Biology Teachers, the National Science Teacher's Association, the Suffolk County Science Teacher's Association, and more.
• Active in the community, including the local fire department.
• Has served as the advisor of the Key Club, Student Government, Independent Study Students, Science Club, Ski Club, STEP Club and Outdoor Club, and more.

Even though this is a long list of "Attributes," it doesn't even begin to capture Mr. Jester's dedication, his ability to inspire students, and his general zest for teaching.

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