Anne Marie Bergen

Anne Marie Bergen’s teaching philosophy, “Active Learning, Meaningful Experiences, Compassionate Teaching”, has guided her professional choices from the outdoor trails as an environmental educator to her current position as Science Teaching Specialist at Cal Poly State University. She will be retiring from an amazing professional life in the summer of 2020.

Anne Marie discovered the natural connection students had for experiential learning at Foothill Horizons Outdoor School, leading environmental classes for sixth grade students. Her educational roles in Oakdale Joint Unified School District included 4th and 6th grade teacher, Gifted and Talented Teacher/Coordinator, Science Mentor, Science Olympiad Coach, and District Science Fair Coordinator. As District Science Teacher for ten years she created a laboratory and field based science program for 2500 students and 120 teachers. For the past ten years she has been faculty at Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, creating and teaching science and STEM undergraduate courses for people becoming teachers.

Her focus on science and STEM engaged her in many leadership roles to include the California Teacher Advisory Council (chair), Central Coast Science Project (co-director), and National Academies Consensus Committee in 2019.

Honors include: Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Math 2010, Cal Poly Commencement Speaker 2009, Cal Poly Honored Alumni 2008, Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence 2006, California Teacher of the Year 2003, Stanislaus County Teacher of the Year 2002.