Maria Giambanco

Brooklyn, NY | 7-12, Science, 2023

What motivates you to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching?

I am motivated to continue to contribute to the excellence of STEM teaching because I want to help cultivate future generations of scientifically literate and engaged citizens who are equipped to tackle the challenges of today and innovate for a sustainable future. I want every student to be able to see themselves as scientists, scientific thinkers, problem solvers and engineers.

What has been the most transformative moment that affirmed your impact on STEM education?

The most transformative moments affirming my STEM impact come from seeing students gain confidence and achieve success for the first time. These aren't just academic breakthroughs; they're profound personal metamorphoses where students overcome discouragement and learn to believe in themselves. Hearing "I knew if I gave it my best, I could achieve anything in your class" is at the heart of my educational goals. Beyond my classroom, I advocate for the elevation of STEM education. I've both helped my school's transition to the NGSS and organized conferences to help in its broader implementation. My efforts support individual student growth and systemic educational improvements, ensuring all students can experience that brush with success.

Using your platform as a Presidential Awardee, how do you hope to advance our nation in STEM?

Being a PAEMST awardee, amplifies my voice, allowing me to advocate for engaging STEM education locally and nationally via media and advisory roles. As an active member in local and state professional organizations, I am able to take knowledgeable voices beyond my own, voices that are in classrooms, working with a wide range of students, out onto a national and potentially global platform in order to advocate for what STEM education REALLY needs in order for it to progress.

Biography

Maria Giambanco has taught science to grades 9-12 at the High School for Telecommunication Arts and Technology sine 2006. She has taught introductory and AP biology courses and currently teaches Sustainability, a STEAM course for which she designed the curriculum. Maria is also the school’s greenhouse coordinator and is responsible for the care of its hydroponics systems. The vegetables grown are used to support local food banks and sold at low cost at the school's green market. Students in Maria’s classes use a scientific, historical, and engineering design–based lens to study and propose solutions to complex global issues. For example, when studying the impacts of garbage, students are challenged to design a leachate and earthquake resistant landfill that can hold the most trash for the lowest cost and environmental impact. They then write a proposal to build that landfill near a fictional town. Proposals are presented to the school and then voted on. Maria received a Fund for Teachers travel grant to study geology in Scotland. As a Math and Science for America/New York State Master Teacher Program (NYSMTP) Fellow, Maria is part of a community of accomplished educators that share best practices to their schools and beyond. Maria is also a committee member of the Science Council of New York City and helps plan its yearly conference. She has presented at conferences such as the Northeast Association for Science Teacher Education and the NYSMTP virtual summer workshops. Maria is a certified biology teacher for grade 7-12. She has a B.S. in biology from St. Joseph’s University, M.S. in biological sciences from Hofstra University, M.S. in ecology and evolutionary biology from Ohio University, and M.S. in secondary science education from Queens College.

High-resolution version of the teacher profile photograph

The views expressed in awardee profiles are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of NSF or the PAEMST program.