ARCHIVED—Recipient Bios
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Year: 2000 – Province: British Columbia
Certificate of Excellence Recipients
Peter Gardiner
School: St. Michaels University School
3400 Richmond Road
Victoria, British Columbia V8P 4P5
Principal: Robert Snowden
School Telephone: 250-592-2411
School Fax: 250-592-2812
School Website: www.smus.bc.ca
Grades/Subjects Taught: Biology, psychology
Teaching Approach:
- Maintain the highest professional standards and the deepest personal commitment.
- Students must accept responsibility for their own learning and realize that the teacher is one of many available resources.
- Students are capable of learning, thinking and analyzing at a much higher level than they initially believe, demonstrate or give themselves credit for.
Outstanding Achievements:
Mr. Gardiner's commitment to teaching excellence is exemplified in student results:
- higher than average enrolment in senior-level biology courses, with near zero attrition
- average marks on provincial biology exams are higher than 90 per cent
- the majority of students writing the Advanced Placement examination get top marks (four or five); 97 per cent achieve a university-equivalence grade
- school team placed first in the 2000 University of Toronto National Biology Competition; one student won a university scholarship.
Created an extracurricular biotechnology program in partnership with a biotechnology company. This lab-based evening course gives students practice in current techniques and insight into their use and implications for society. This will lead to the establishment of a biotechnology summer program for teachers and gifted students next year.
Presented numerous professional development workshops across Canada, for teachers of Advanced Placement biology.
Rave Reviews:
"Mr. Gardiner's class was the most intellectually stimulating and enjoyable class I have ever attended in my academic career." Former student
"The problem is not getting students into his classes; it is getting them out at the end of the day." Principal