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Charles Crosby

After 13 years teaching at Quimby Oak Colleen Boyle has seen and done it all. She has taught everything from PE to Science, Peer Advisory to 21st Century Project Based Learning. She even coaches the school's boy's basketball and volleyball teams. The PBL work particularly stands out. "Since I've been teaching 21st Century PBL over the past three years, it has been the presentation/exhibition days to industry professionals for each project that are particularly memorable," she says. "I love to see the students sharing their creativity and someone from outside the world of education having the opportunity to see it too and give them real feedback. They are always very impressed with the student projects and what these young people come up with."

Boyle came to Quimby from outside the education world. She says her move from industry to teaching was one of the best moves she ever made. "Teaching is an extremely rewarding career, just push on for the first couple years, and you will be paid back ten fold in the years to come by the lives you've touched," she notes.

Outside the classroom Boyle is committed to the above-motioned coaching but also manages to spend time outdoors being active - hiking, running, spending time at the beach, going to sporting events, and spending time with her family and friends. She's also spearheading a partnership with the San Jose Environmental Services Department that would see the development of a pilot lesson plan on litter prevention, storm water protection & zero waste topics aimed at a 7^th grade audience. The plan would challenge students to design, create, and sell up-cycled products made from material that would otherwise go to the landfill or potentially be littered in their community.

Quimby Oak principal Phil Bond is definitely a fan. "As a 15 year staff member, Colleen stands out as a dynamic and multidimensional teacher and coach," he says. "Colleen has completely immersed herself in her effort to provide so many learning experiences to so many young minds. Colleen Boyle is that great profile we all subscribe to become."

Next up is the SJESD 3^rd Quarter project and more PBL work. Boyle will continue working with her students and her teams to bring about their best, no matter the challenges involved. But above all else is the connection she has made and will continue to make with her students: "I enjoy developing the relationship with the students, and the interaction with them. It's always fun to see them working hard and enjoying what they're doing. I overheard a student say the other day 'this class is hard, but it's fun.' Perfect! That's exactly what I want it to be."