Massachusetts Hall of Fame for Science Educators

Joseph Lapiana (2000)

Joe Lapiana has been a life science educator for more than three decades. He served as Chairman of the Science Department at Dracut Senior High School for 28 years during which he actively taught three classes a day in human anatomy and biology to seniors and sophomores when he was not spending time in departmental management. He is noted for the tremendous passion he brings to everything he does, whether it be as a science supervisor, teacher, or program participant. Whenever someone speaks of leadership in science, Joe Lapiana's name will be mentioned. One nominator wrote, "I have seen his deep commitment to the advancement and excellence of science education… at all levels local, state, regional and national."

Mr. Lapiana received his Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) degree in Biology at Merrimack College in No. Andover, Massachusetts and his Master of Science Degree in Health Science and Marine Biology at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts in 1970. Since then he has completed more than 30 credits of post master's degree graduate work at such institutions as Princeton University and Tufts University and as well as others and has attended many workshops and seminars He is a frequent presenter at major state and national conventions and workshops for science educators. Among his publications are a monograph entitled " A Peer Training Manual for Drug Education"; an interdisciplinary curriculum entitled " Biological Events That Changed The World"; and more recently he has co authored an interdisciplinary unit entitled "Poliomyelitis: The Era Of Fear", with his colleague Dr. Robert Winkowski, Social Studies Chairman at Dracut High School.

Mr. Lapiana has been recognized for his work on many committees and advisory boards at the local, state and national levels in such organizations as the National Science Teachers Association, National Association of Biology Teachers. In 2001, Joe was elected to serve as the Region A Director of the National Science Education Leadership Association (NSELA) to represent all of New England. He has served as President of the North Shore Science Supervisors Association and the statewide Massachusetts Association Of Science Supervisors. He has recently been involved as an advisor to the "Water Under Fire Program" of The Tsongas Industrial History Center and a reviewer for the Department Of The Interior's Web site entitled "The Real Thing" which is used by educators in integrating national parks into their curriculum.

Special Honors:

• Massachusetts Outstanding Science Educator Of The Year - 2000
• Inducted into the Massachusetts Hall Of Fame For Science Educators (2000)
• Massachusetts Society For Medical Research - Science Educator Award (2000)
• NSTA Distinguished Service To Science Education - CAGS Award (1998)
• Mini Fellowship in Interdisciplinary Science Education - Tufts University Wright Center For Science Education For A Curriculum Entitled " Poliomyelitis: The Era Of Fear" (1996)
• Northeastern University Center For The Enhancement Of Science and Mathematics Education Grant for "Biological Events That Changed The World" Curriculum (1993)
• Woodrow Wilson Teacher Fellowship at Princeton University for "Populations to Molecules" (1994)

During the 1999-2000 academic year, Mr. Lapiana was recognized for his work in Environmental Education by Secretary of Environmental Affairs, Robert Durand, as well as by Massachusetts Commissioner of Education, Dr. David Driscoll, as a PALMS (Partnerships Advancing The Learning of Math and Science) Teacher Leader. He has served on The Curriculum Frameworks review committee in Science and Technology and on a Blue Ribbon Panel to set performance standards for the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS).

Since his recent retirement in 2001, Joe has worked as President of Westford Associates, consultants to Science and Education Organizations. He has served as Science Advisor to the Massachusetts Society For Medical Research, Consultant to the Boston Public Schools Teacher Mentor/Coaching Program, and as a member of the Institutional Care and Use Committee of Genetics Institute, a group that reviews research protocols.

Last Modified: June 19, 2012