Escondido Teacher 'A True Trailblazer' In STEM Education

ESCONDIDO, CA — Great teachers matter. In Escondido, we're fortunate to have teachers like Stacy Ganzer.

Patch has partnered with T-Mobile to recognize teachers and show them how much they’re valued and appreciated.

This submission comes from Tracy Nguyen, O.D., who nominated Stacy Ganzer of Escondido.

Teacher's name

Stacy Ganzer

How do you know the teacher?

STEM Community Partners

What does this person teach?

Special Education — all grades

Why do you believe the teacher should be recognized or honored?

In 2018, I had the pleasure of meeting Stacy Ganzer when she took on the role of coaching her son's FIRST Lego League team, a task typically associated with fathers. It's worth noting that my daughter served as the mentor of his team, deepening our connections to Stacy's admirable efforts. Witnessing the profound impact that FIRST had on her son, Stacy was inspired to extend that opportunity to others. Her selflessness and dedication to helping others were truly impressive. Therefore, it is with great admiration that I nominate Stacy Ganzer for the Patch Teacher Shout-out.

Stacy Ganzer is an educator in the Escondido Union Elementary School District. She holds a Master's in Education from National University. Since 2000, she has worked as an elementary school teacher in general and special education. She enjoys interacting with students of all age levels, having taught TK through 5th grade students. She is currently an Education Specialist at Miller Elementary School, supporting students with special needs and their teachers to help ensure success in the classroom.

Stacy Ganzer's approach to STEM education is a testament to her creativity and innovation. Her unique methods, particularly her dedication to fostering enthusiasm and excitement among the next generation of female-identifying explorers and innovators in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), set her apart. Through dynamic extracurricular activities, she consistently goes above and beyond to ignite a passion for STEM in her students. One of her most notable contributions is her dedication to providing STEM opportunities for students through after-school robotics programs. As a volunteer coordinator for Mustang Robotics at Meadowbrook Middles School in Poway, Stacy works to create STEM learning opportunities for students. Since 2000, she has headed the effort to continue a rich history of FIRST Lego robotics at the school and help spread it throughout the district by attending robotics information sessions, Science nights and fairs at district elementary schools.

Through mentoring parent coaches, maintaining the robotics equipment, and ensuring all coaches and students have the support they need to compete in Lego robotics, Stacy has enabled parents and students to discover their passion for STEM through robotics. As an educator, Stacy acknowledges the significance of representation and inclusivity in STEM fields, particularity for young women. With this in mind, she served as the SWE advisor for her son's robotics team, helping to promote understanding and collaboration with HeForSWE to ensure empowerment for girls was truly a team effort. Additionally, she coaches her school's after-school robotics program, providing students with special needs an equal opportunity to participate in STEM learning, a clear testament to her commitment to inclusivity within the field. Moreover, Stacy's commitment to nurturing the talents extends to empowering other teachers to enter STEM education. She created and taught workshops on Spike Prime Lego Robotics for the Escondido Union School District to help expand the robotics after-school program. Through her coaching, Stacey provided streamlined and manageable robotics materials and lessons, empowering other female- identifying teachers to build confidence beyond their comfort zones in teaching robotics. Stacy Ganzer's commitment to community involvement, particularly in the San Diego area, is a testament to her dedication to promoting STEM awareness beyond the classroom. Recognizing the importance of engaging with the broader community, she has taken on leadership roles in various community activities and organizations, furthering her impact in the field of STEM education.She was on the non-profit R&D Robotics Education board as secretary while her son participated in robotics. She spearheaded the initiative, Storytime with Engineers at Miller Elementary School with SWE - San Diego for two years to celebrate National Engineers Week. Students enjoyed engineering and STEM stories from community and SWE engineers to provide positive role models and inspire them to be future engineers. Stacy's involvement in SWE-San Diego is exemplary, where she has led numerous events and activities to inspire the next generation of female engineers and technologists.

From organizing outreach programs at local schools to supporting workshops and seminars for young women interested in STEM fields, Stacy has played a pivotal role in creating opportunities for aspiring female-identifying STEM professionals to learn, grow, and succeed. Stacy Ganzer has organized the Wilson Robotics FLL Scrimmage for two consecutive years, tailored explicitly for underserved and underrepresented youth in City Heights. Her dedication to this initiative has been unwavering, which is evident in the meticulous planning and execution she has put forth. Stacy has gone above and beyond, conducting extensive Zoom workshops to ensure that judges are well-prepared and proficient for the scrimmage, thus providing a smooth and impactful experience for all participants. Thus, recognized for volunteering over 100 hours for SWE-SD, she has earned the well deserved President Volunteer Service Award last fiscal year. Furthermore, Stacy's leadership extends to her involvement in SWENext, SWE collegiate sections, and other outreach initiatives, where she has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to supporting and mentoring young women on their STEM journeys. Whether volunteering at a STEM fair or mentoring students and coaches, Stacy consistently goes above and beyond to make a positive impact on the lives of others.

In conclusion, Stacy Ganzer is a true trailblazer in STEM education and community engagement. Her passion for inspiring the next generation of female-identifying explorers and innovators is evident in everything she does, from her innovative curriculum to her leadership in community outreach efforts. Through her tireless dedication and unwavering commitment, Stacy is shaping the future of STEM and empowering young women to reach their full potential in these critical fields. She is a shining example of excellence and inspiration, and her contributions to education and the community deserve recognition and praise.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the teacher?

She has a heart of gold! Very generous.

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