Massachusetts Hall of Fame for Science Educators

Joe Pignatiello (1995)

As a teacher, administrator, department leader, and college instructor, Joe Pignatiello's function has been to interact positively with people in order to initiate cooperative efforts and to insure effective educational goals. His tenure of leadership has included informed decision-making. These decisions have reflected the needs and philosophy of the Somerville School System and the diverse community. It is not by accident that the science program in Somerville has achieved state-wide recognition for excellence. Within the science department he has fostered the continued improvement of both curriculum and personnel. He created an image of a science program that is positive and flexible and that accommodates the students as it deals with all the components of the Education Reform Act. Under his leadership Somerville has moved in new directions in advancing programs such as CASPAR, an alcohol education program; and the nationally recognized project Outside-Inside, plus the Tufts University-Somerville Bi-Lingual Collaborative. Joe has always shared every educational experience with colleagues, parents, community groups, student teachers and other administrators at local, regional and national conventions. He has a passion for teaching and strongly feels that every youngster can learn and understand science.

Joe attended Boston University where he received a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Secondary Science Education in 1965. Since then he has completed more than 45 credits of post-master's degree work at Boston State College, Eastern Nazarene College, Boston University and Tufts University. Joe is co-author of Integrated Math -Science Materials For Potential English Proficient Students(CESAME, 1993) and Essentials Of Biology (Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1998). Joe has been a moving force on many committees and boards during his career as a science educator. His commitment to fostering science education is reflected in the following:

• President, Massachusetts Association Of Science Supervisors - 1999
• President, North Shore Science Supervisors Association - 1995
• President, Massachusetts State Science Fair Committee - (1984-1989)
• Vice President, Massachusetts State Science Fair Committee - (1982-1984)
• Southern New England Director, National Junior Science and Humanities
  Symposium -1982
• Massachusetts State Representative to the International Science and Engineering
  Fair - 1981
• Director, Region IV State Science Fair - (1975-1982)
• Massachusetts Delegate, National Youth Conference on Science and The
  Environment - 1971

Joe was inducted into the Massachusetts Hall of Fame For Science Educators in 1995, and was selected as Massachusetts Outstanding Science Educator of the Year in 2001. He has recently retired and works as n Educational Consultant in the Boston Public Schools as a mentor/coach and workshop provider. He teaches a graduate course "Methods In Secondary Science Education" in the Graduate College of Education at the University of Massachusetts-Boston. He also supervises student teachers for the Education Department at Tufts University.

Last Modified: October 7, 2004