Mark McKay currently teaches marine science, biology, AP environmental science, GIS, and forensics in a science and technology charter school he helped found two years ago. Prior to this challenge, he developed analytical instrumentation used in energy production and coordinated a grant providing science teacher training in rural and small school districts. Mr. McKay’s students are heavily involved in competitions and field research projects in the Gulf of Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and the Mokelumne River watershed, replacing invasive plant species with native plants and working to restore the river in order to increase salmon runs. In his spare time, Mr. McKay teaches other teachers and administrators, breeds tropical fish, scuba dives, competes in martial arts, and is completing a second masters degree. Mr. McKay feels he has the greatest job in the world, because he does real science with students who are interested and engaged, and he is looking forward to bringing more authentic science and oceanography to his students from his PolarTREC expedition.
Stockton, CA
United States