Tina Ciarametaro is an outdoor enthusiast and a lifelong learner. She grew up in the Adirondacks and spent her summers navigating the St. Lawrence River. From an early age, she was encouraged to 'read' the natural world. Tina graduated from SUNY schools with a BS in biology and a MS in science education. She started her career in 1990 teaching biological sciences but found her niche in 2006 when she was hired by Ipswich Middle School to teach earth science.
Tina teaches earth science from the perspective of looking at the natural world through a forensics' eye; guiding her students to look for clues that nature presents, identify patterns and attempt to determine the source of change. As a teacher, Tina feels that she has a unique opportunity to help impact future generations and the decisions that are made, by sharing her experiences with her students. Tina believes the most effective teachers are those who are passionate and well educated about the subject matter they teach. Tina is confident that her PolarTREC experience will not only expand her knowledge, but motivate her students as well. When Tina isn't in the classroom she can be found hiking and camping with her family, gardening or being a naturalist aboard a whale watch boat out of Gloucester, MA.
Ipswich, MA
United States
I first learned of PolarTREC at the STEMS International Polar Year course offered through University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Throughout the course we were working side by side with leading climatologists (Julie Brigham-Grette, Beth Caissie, Ray Bradley). The focus of the course was to provide teachers with the most recent data/evidence regarding the Polar Regions. I was hooked. I needed to know more and I became determined to be part of the research.
I am in awe of the natural world; how the Earth sub-systems function and respond to change. I love examining the clues that the natural world presents and looking for patterns to determine the source of change. I feel that I have a responsibility to my students to have a comprehensive understanding of the material that I teach. As a teacher, I have a unique opportunity to help impact future generations and the decisions that are made, by sharing what I learn from my experiences with my students. The most effective teachers are those who are passionate and well educated about the subject matter they teach. I have that passion, I need the in-depth knowledge.
Tina hosted a polar-themed movie in her Massachusetts community, complete with a dialogue session with her team's researcher Dr. Jason Briner. Additionally, she has reached out to the ICE-MITT project to visit the community as they are transporting a polar ice core back to labs in the Northeast.