UC Santa Barbara Gevirtz School alumna Christine Fitzpatrick recently won the prestigious Project Lead the Way (PTLW) Teacher of the Year Award for 2017. Fitzpatrick currently teaches in the Biomedical Sciences, Engineering and Leadership Magnet at Sun Valley Magnet School in Los Angeles.
Fitzpatrick teaches High School Biology, Principles of Biomedical Science (PLTW), Human Body Systems (PLTW), and Medical Interventions (PLTW). Fitzpatrick has worked to grow the Biomedical Science program at Sun Valley from only two courses in 2014 to now having two courses at each level. Her future plans include adding the capstone course Biomedical Innovation for seniors who wish to further their exploration in the field. Fitzpatrick is passionate about exposing student to the biomedical world first-hand through field trips to research hospitals, forensics laboratories, and more. She has also helped her students land competitive internship positions at clinics and hospitals in the LA area.
Fitzpatrick earned her single subject credential and M.Ed. from UC Santa Barbara's Teacher Education Program in 2013, with the support of Susan Johnson, Peggy Lubchenco and Jennifer Scalzo. As an undergraduate at UCSB, Fitzpatrick interned for three years in the laboratory of Dr. Les Wilson under the mentorship of Dr. Jennifer Smith, an experience that inspired her to combine teaching and science research in her career.