Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Photograph by George Sakkestad

PTSA Educator of the Year Alex Shultz talks with student Molly Vaden following a science class.

Educator of the year started as a geologist

By Shari Kaplan

Nearly 15 years ago, Alex Shultz graduated from Chico State University and began a career as a geologist. He monitored land subsidence around a nuclear plant, analyzed dam design and did groundwater hazardous-waste cleanup.

A few years later, he went back to school--San Jose State University this time--and emerged with a teaching credential. Earlier this year, the Los Gatos High School PTSA awarded Shultz its Educator of the Year award, which goes to exemplary teachers nominated by students, parents and teachers.

"I got into geology and didn't really like the lifestyle. You either become a computer geologist or a field geologist," Shultz says, recalling how even as he was pursuing his geology degree, he found himself musing about becoming a teacher.

When he received his teaching credential in the mid-1980s, Shultz, a Los Gatos resident, taught science for several years at San Jose's Gunderson High School before coming to Los Gatos High. He currently teaches five periods of ninth-grade earth/space science, which includes chemistry, nuclear physics, geology, meteorology and astronomy.

In previous years, Shultz also taught biology. This year, however, there were more incoming freshmen who needed to take earth/space science.

"In teaching, being organized is very important. If you're going to do a series of investigations, you put them in an order so that information flows from one thing to the next; you help kids understand something down the line because of something you did prior," he explains.

"In the ninth grade especially, they're still at an age where you can make an impression on them [and] they're old enough that you can deal with concepts that are interesting to you."

Among the things Shultz does to make an impression are "magic tricks" he likes to perform before tests.

"There is a point to it!" he says with a grin. "Science is a lot of observation, so looking at a magic trick, you have to be observant to figure it out. Also, some students get nervous before tests, and this helps them relax."

Along with tricks, Shultz treats his class to visual and hands-on examples during labs or lectures to help them grasp scientific concepts. During a recent unit on earthquakes--which, appropriately, coincided with a 4.7 quake on May 21--Shultz demonstrated the concept of resonant frequency with a seismic oscillation model. What sounds highly technical in words is in actuality simple wooden blocks attached to wires mounted on a board, simulating how buildings of different heights move from different earthquake waves.

"I've learned a lot by working with [biology teacher] John MacDonald. I'm sold on the approach that it's more important to be able to think and solve problems than to know a lot of stuff," Shultz says. "I do teach a lot of content information, but I try to teach in a way where the kids have to figure it out by themselves, as much as possible."

MacDonald, who has been at Los Gatos High for more than 30 years, says what impresses him about Shultz is his enthusiasm and can-do attitude, and the respect he has for students, which they return in kind.

"In his first couple of years here, we worked together--he fed off my experience, and I fed off his new ideas and insights. He didn't feel the least bit reticent about saying, 'How about doing it this way?'" MacDonald recalls. "He has the attitude of, 'What can I do?,' not 'What's in it for me?'"

"Teaching is an occupation where you don't always get a lot of feedback as to whether you're doing a good job or not. It was really special to be recognized," Shultz says of his PTSA award, which consists of a personal plaque, a plaque in the school office and $1,000, which he will use to buy equipment and materials for the science department.

When he's not busy sharing his love of science, Shultz enjoys traveling with his wife and three children, taking family guitar lessons, coaching his daughter's soccer team and playing baseball with his sons.