Forbes published their “30 under 30” list for education. It’s a list notably lacking actual teachers. This is frustrating because, as exciting as it may be for these young people to create a start-up designed to help their communities, we already have a group of highly-trained, preposterously-dedicated people for whom teaching is a vocation.
So, I’d like to present an alternative “30 under 30”: educators who are genuinely changing the world, and not getting the salary or respect they damned well deserve.
(And I don’t care about their ages).
Kristine Atrens – A top-notch kindergarten teacher who epitomizes dedication and caring.
Peter Bohacek – One of the people behind Direct Measurement Videos and Pivot Interactives, both of which are really effective because of Peter’s ability to draw on his teaching experience to understand what active learning really requires.
Stephen Collins – An expert on the Socratic method and standards-based grading, and a modeling instruction leader.
Oyuntsetseg Durvuljin – The founder and spiritual leader of ‘Hobby’ School, a project that lifted hundreds of students into the upper-middle class through education and providing opportunities.
Cristina and John Julius Fajardo – This teaching couple are the most enthusiastic, energetic, teachers I have ever met. They care about the students so much that the students can’t help but care about learning.
Erdenetsetseg Gombojav – Such a great teacher that she becomes an extra parent and gets the best out of her students by caring for them and maintaining the highest standards.
Chris Hamper – A lifelong physics teacher, textbook author, online resource provider, and workshop leader. The best of IB Physics comes from him.
Megan Hayes-Golding – A superb physics and STEM educator with a passion for helping students take on challenges. Bonus points for bow ties.
Richard Hechter – A scholar and educator who focuses on cultural aspects of science education, especially the intersection between Western and Canadian Aboriginal ways of knowing.
Meghan Hennick – An innovative, creative, and passionate elementary school teacher on the international circuit.
Scott Hovan – Probably the expert on how to get students talking honestly, thoughtfully, and considerately in high school physics.
Sarah Johnson – An educator at Simon Fraser at the forefront of getting girls into physics, and changing the discipline to make it more accessible.
Michael Lerner – A deeply passionate educator who puts his students first, and invests the time and energy needed to create an exceptional learning environment for them.
Joe McIntyre – An educator and policy scholar with strong passion and a deep commitment to education as a tool for social empowerment.
Zanda Medne – An English and German teacher and university lecturer who inspires love from her students by being passionate about their success.
Dan Meyer – Former high school maths teacher, currently developing great tools at Desmos.
Derek Muller – Best known as Veritasium, his Youtube channel is an outgrowth of his doctoral research into how students learn via videos.
Kelly O’Shea – Proof that educational change happens best when it comes from working teachers. Her numerous ideas, shared through the blog, have helped hundreds of teachers move toward more active teaching methods.
L Ozola – An excellent maths teacher and PhD student, she connects with students through humour and inspires them to do exceptional things.
Moses Rifkin – A deeply wise and conscientious man at the forefront of social justice in high school physics education.
Marianna Ruggerio – An enthusiastic and creative physics teacher who has recently started sharing her experiences via Twitter.
Andy Rundquist – A physics professor with a commitment to faculty development, collaboration, and learning communities.
Patrick Savage – A drama and French teacher whose compassion and patience for his students have always inspired them to become better citizens.
Sloane Schubert – A thoughtful, original, caring educator with a broad range of experience and mastery.
Leigh and Scott Simon – A teaching couple whose passion for their students is exceeded only by their willingness to do whatever it takes to provide meaningful, exciting, and effective learning experiences.
Ieva Smits – A dedicated teacher with a strong commitment to education as a way to improve communities, especially through service.
Rebecca Vieyra – The K-12 program manager at the AAPT, she is responsible for many great programs to support teachers and teaching of physics
Evan Weinberg – Evidence, in case any is needed, that great teachers can build the tools they need to conduct great teaching.
(There’s a whole bunch of other people I wanted to include, but randomly didn’t because of the limit of 30)
Teaching Danny... 