News||March 17, 2010 6:52 pm

Teacher gets NASA award and pink-slip

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Fifth-grade teacher Chris Miko of Meadow Elementary was laid off last week after earning a prestigious NASA fellowship earlier this year. Photo by Andrea Ruse

by Andrea Ruse

Meadows Elementary fifth-grade teacher Chris Miko is one of 40 educators, chosen from among 2,000 applicants nationwide, to receive a National Aeronautics and Space Administration fellowship this year.

He is also one of 19 teachers in the Manhattan Beach Unified School District who was pink-slipped last Wednesday.

The termination notices were due to budget cuts and, as required by the California Education Code, based on seniority.

“I didn’t know for sure where I was on the list,” Miko said. “I was just crossing my fingers hoping to be high enough up, but alas.”

During his three years at Meadows, Miko, 32, has started a science club, fostered new technologies into classrooms and started a habitat restoration program run by pre-teens.

“He is a phenomenal teacher and motivates his students in all subjects, not just science,” said Connie Harrington, principal of Meadows Elementary School. “Part of his attraction is that he’s so into it. He throws off a certain energy and the students sense it.”

“He’s totally into the science factor,” said Katherine Pasterczyk, one of Miko’s fifth-graders. “Because he’s really into it, it makes me want to be into it too.”

Miko’s students can tell you dozens of facts about both science and their teacher, including how to build a robot or a rocket, that the Ballona Wetlands in Playa del Rey are home to a number of endangered species and that Mr. Miko’s three heroes are Albert Einstein, Walt Disney and Jim Hensen. They know that one day Mr. Miko hopes to host a TV show from the moon, wants to be the first person on Mars and that his favorite band is “They Might Be Giants.” He’s also into bobbleheads, the Lakers and telling paranormal stories.

His students will tell you that they don’t want their futures to be decided by politicians.

They also know that Mr. Miko won’t be returning to Meadows next year.

“The kids were really bummed out,” Miko said. “Of course, they were upset, but I told them things will all work out and everything will be okay.”

Growing up, Miko dreamt about becoming an astronaut. His curious mind led him to disassemble then reassemble the first computer his parents ever brought home, along with TVs, stereos, an electric drum kit and any other electronic device he could get his hands on.

“When I was bored, I’d just get Dad’s screwdriver out, open something up and check it out so I could see what was inside and how it worked,” Miko said.

He had dreams of launching into outer space, but Miko also felt a passion for teaching.

In 2006, he received his B.A. in Liberal Arts and teaching credential from California State University Northridge and took a job with the nonprofit organization, STAR Education. The following year, he was hired at Meadows as a full-time teacher with a science specialty. He began making additions to the school’s program right away.

“There were so many students interested in science and we were so limited on time to cover all the standards,” Miko said. “So I started the after-school science club.”

There were 25 students in the GoEcoKids Club at first. Now there are about 50, including Miko’s former students who have moved onto sixth and seventh grade. Students in the science club volunteer on a year-round restoration project at the Ballona Wetlands, where they are in charge of running monthly waste clean-ups and educating volunteers.

Last summer, Miko started a science camp where students learned about chemistry, robotics and environmental science.

Miko inspires his students as much inside the classroom as outside, using a combination of hands-on projects, songs, story-telling and YouTube to get kids fired up about learning.

“Before Mr. Miko, I thought science was boring,” science club member Kevin Glasser said.

“It just sounds more fun when Mr. Miko teaches it,” fifth grader Noelle Davidson said. “He knows the answers to everything. And he never gets tired of you asking him lots of questions.”

The numbers appear to agree.

“We’ve had studies focused on scientific education for a number of years, especially in elementary science,” said Carolyn Seaton, MBUSD’s Executive Director of Educational Services. “While there are a lot of variables, it’s pretty evident what Chris’s teaching, combined with the addition of a science specialist, has done for students at Meadows. Science scores went up a good amount last year.”

However, last March Miko was one of 84 teachers who received a layoff notice when cuts in state funding forced the school district to shave $4 million from its $50 million budget. In June, emergency contributions from the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation and the city allowed Miko to stay employed at Meadows this year.

“Teachers with less seniority are the ones that are affected,” Seaton said. “Newer ones like Chris are among the first ones to be laid off during budget cuts. Fortunately, he was able to be brought back last year.”

Last summer, Miko was one of 300 teachers worldwide to attend a week-long seminar at NASA’s space camp in Alabama, where he participated in professional development workshops in math and science and, like real astronauts, trained for zero gravity conditions.

“That was a blast,” Miko said. “We were put in teams to fly the space shuttle simulator. It was like a dream come true.”

In November, Miko travelled to Africa with Grove of Hope — an organization set up by NASA-affiliated scientists — to provide Moroccan schools with science and technology programs. Over six days, Miko taught astronomy workshops to 1,000 Moroccan children per day in three cities.

The following month, Miko learned about the prestigious NASA fellowship from a former student who encouraged him to apply.

“They looked at what teachers do and how they do it in the classroom,” Miko said. “They wanted teachers who go above and beyond for their students. Some of the people selected have been teachers for more than 20 years.”

In January, he began the year-long program, intended to develop highly qualified educators in STEM — Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics — subjects. He will also earn credit towards a master’s degree in STEM from Columbia University in New York.

“He definitely deserves it,” fifth grader Elizabeth Luck said. “He’s always talking about going to space.”

Although Miko won’t actually be blasting off, he will participate in an online cohort of 40 teachers integrating NASA research with education.

“He’ll gain quite a bit of individual knowledge,” Seaton said. “The whole idea is then to share that information about the latest scientific technologies with colleagues.”

Miko said that Superintendent Bev Rohrer expressed deep regret as she personally handed him a layoff notice last week.

Unless the district finds a way to meet next year’s $1.5 million shortfall, Miko will not be bringing the knowledge he gains from NASA back to Meadows.

While a $4.1 million donation from the MBEF saved roughly 35 teaching jobs last week, president Erika White said the organization will not be running an additional fundraising campaign this year to save more jobs. City officials likewise said they are not able to make a cash contribution to the district this year.

“This year, it doesn’t seem like there’s enough support for another last minute save,” Miko said. “People are tapped out financially and have done all they can do. At this point, it seems more final than it did last year.”

Miko plans to apply at Manhattan Beach Middle and Mira Costa High schools for a position with the district next year. He also has hopes of one day opening a science charter school.

“It’s been my dream for many years,” Miko said. “Especially since I don’t know how long my time is here.”

He still plans to hold his second science camp this summer where camp-goers will learn to build computers from old parts.

No matter where Miko ends up next year, he will leave behind a class full of future veterinarians, dancers, teachers, singers, zoologists, Disney imagineers, inventors, engineers, and authors who all think science is cool.

Just how cool?

One day after the bell rang and Miko’s students scattered to go home, a boy ran back in the classroom with an intent look on his face.

“Wait,” the boy called to his friends. “Mr. Miko, do we have science club today?” ER

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  • Bill Mosier

    RegardingChris Miko’s pink slip: I certainly don’t want to trivialize seniority, but what does this say to the teacher inspired to do a good job? My kids, at they went through Mira Costa, noted the several more senior teachers that were just going through the motions. And they noticed the younger inspired teachers who became more jaded as they saw the lack of reward for excellence. What does this tell the kids? The unions and administrations need to ask themselves if they are really doing the kids a favor by not rewarding merit at all.

    - Bill Mosier

  • Kyle

    Is seniority really the only measure we can use to determine which teachers stay and which ones “must” be cut due to budget shortfall? When we can’t afford something in our household, we make decisions about what we need and what we most benefit from having. This might leave a lot of discretion to an administration, but then again if they are held to the same level of accountability and cost-benefit analysis they might exert better, rational decision making than “last hired, first fired”.

  • http://yahoo David

    And of the 35 teaching jobs saved last week, how many have received a NASA fellowship? Have started a GeoKids Club? A Science Club? Are in STEM?

    Why, exactly, am I donating to MBEF — purportedly an Education Foundation — when the best educators are being dismissed?

  • Rob

    I don’t know Mr. Miko personally, but my children do and for that I’m thankful. He made a difference in their lives. He got my son off of dinosaurs and into Space. My out of town friends still talk about the visit they made to Meadow’s Space Night and my daughter likes him so much she’s looking forward to fifth grade!

    Mr. Miko, you inspired my children to learn more about space and science. Thank you!

    I would like to share two quotes from James Michener, my Space teacher, about where I’d like to see you next year and the choices made by MBUSD.

    “An age is called Dark not because the light fails to shine, but because people refuse to see it.” Let’s fight to keep Mr. Miko at Meadows because “character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries.” I hope someone invites me to help keep you at Meadows!

  • Kalpana

    Chris was my son Anand’s teacher last year and I was hoping he would be my daughter’s teacher next year when she reached 5th grade. He is a very inspiring teacher and in the words of my son “he gets me.” This is high praise and the reason why we shared news of the NASA fellowship with him. Although I know he has a philosophical view on this whole situation, it does frustrate me that we can not retain such a quality individual who has more than proven his passion for his subject of science and inspiring kids to learn in a way that is relevant to their generation. This isn’t easy, I know being a teacher myself. Best wishes Chris.

  • Stacy

    It’s a shame when great teachers like Mr. Miko are selected for layoffs just because of their seniority. He’s done so many great things for science learning at Meadows. Because of Mr. Miko’s high standards and teaching style, my older son thinks 6th grade science is a breeze!

  • Christine

    My son was in Mr. Miko’s first class at Meadows. He is now a 7th grader and still mentions his name at least once a week and after school on Fridays he walks up to Meadows to serve as a mentor for the science club. My son talks about taking AP Physics and Biology in 10th grade. How many 7th graders have this type of discussion with their friends and parents? I contribute it to the spark that grew into an immense passion for science that Mr. Miko ignited in my son. I am sure he will go on to do great things because of it. My younger son can’t wait to have Mr. Miko as a science teacher next year. Mr. Miko is considered the rock star of science at Meadows.

    It makes no sense to me that an individual with Mr. Miko’s achievements could be laid off. His exceptional performance includes raising the STAR test scores in Science 20 points in his first year at Meadows. I attribute his success to his ability to connect with the students and apply the concepts of science to every day life.

    In the private sector, Mr. Miko would be considered an indispensable company resource. Something is dreadfully wrong with our system when an organization would consider laying off a NASA fellow.

    I’d welcome a response from the Teachers Union on Mr. Miko’s situation, as well as how they are supporting young, bright, teachers who are at the bottom end of their seniority system. What is the future for new teachers in California with our budget situation and this type of system?

  • http://www.thebeachcities411.com Perla Druilhet

    My daughter, Soleil had Mr. Miko as her 5th grade teacher, and she thrived in Science because she could feel his passion for it. I am grieved that the MBSD cannot see the contribution this man has given. Grieved at the politics involved, and the lack of discretion the board uses in making its choices. The children need more teachers like Mr. Miko who are actively involved on a global basis. I am very upset about him getting a pink slip, and the fact that there is an enormous wrong being committed here, and the children as always, will be the ones to feel the loss.

  • http://www.thebeachcities411.com Perla Druilhet

    I know the children are going to feel the loss not the board of MBSD. Mr. Miko was my daughter Soleils 5th grade teacher, and she thrived in Science because of his passion. Of all the teachers, come on! Show us that you really do care about our childrens education and keep Mr. Miko! Give someone else a pink slip! KEEP MR. MIKO!!

  • http://www.thebeachcities411.com Perla Druilhet

    Keep Mr. Miko!
    He is one of the few teachers besides Mr. Barakat and Mr. Chow that actually get it, and the children benefit from these young passionate teachers! My daughter Soleil had him as her 5th grade teacher, and she thrived in Science because of his intellect and ability to teach the children, and actually inspire the children. The children will be at a great loss educationally!!! KEEP MR. MIKO!!

  • Josh M.

    Using my poor math skills that I have from attending public schools with seniority policies, it seems that the 4.1million from MBEF saved 35 jobs at over $117,000 per job. Which teacher is making $117,000? If teachers actually made this much than we might have more teachers like Chris. Charter schools are the way of the future in California. I recommend to everyone reading this that they move their children to a charter school to get a solid education.

  • Dad

    Laying off Mr Miko is a ludicrous act that should disgrace the dysfunctional California Teacher’s Union. Mr. Miko is the best teacher in the district and because of the inflexibility of the Union he would be one of the first to get laid off??? And where are the Directors of the School District whose job it is to manage the Union?

    This action, of giving Mr. Miko a pink slip, yet again demonstrates that the business model of the School District and the Teachers Union is not capable of meeting the responsibility of reasonably managing the Manhattan Beach Teaching Staff. In a functioning business model, you layoff your underperforming employees first not your best performers.

    I call for the layoff or early retirement of underperforming senior teachers prior to the layoff of the highest performing young teacher in the district. I call for the recall of the Manhattan Beach School District Superintendent. We parents and taxpayers of Manhattan Beach must hold the Teachers Union and the Manhattan Beach Unified School District Executives accountable for their actions. Let’s publicly and objectively review the performance records of each and every teacher in the Manhattan Beach School district. Let’s publicly and objectively make the decision of who gets laid off and who gets retained and let’s stop the insanity of allowing lousy older teachers to treat our kids poorly while we turn away the young teachers who inspire our children to do their best. If the School District and the Teacher’s Union can’t get it done right, then let’s do it ourselves.

  • Southbay local

    There is something *seriously* wrong with these kinds of rigidly stupid union rules — what possible rational justification can be made for putting a higher value on the length of time someone has been receiving a paycheck from the school district than on his/her actual ability? While it’s a temporary setback for this teacher (although I have no doubt he’ll quickly end up with a better gig) the people who will really end up paying the price for this kind of idiotic decision are the students. How sad, and how completely unnecessary.

    Bottom line is that seniority != ability. To use a sports analogy, suppose it’s 1987 and the Chicago Bulls need to let a few players go for budget reasons. Would anyone seriously suggest that Michael Jordan should get the pink slip, simply because he lacks the seniority of the other players? According to the teacher’s union, Yes, firing Jordan would be the “right” decision and would clearly be in everyone’s best interest. Nevermind the fact that he is demonstrably better than anyone else on the team…. he’d still get the pink slip.

    That would be insanity, but incredibly, that’s exactly what the school district is doing here. Again, how sad for the students. Best wishes for the future Mr. Miko!!!

  • Kathleen

    I am a student in high school, it is straight stupid to lay off teachers who actually get students excited about school.

    I just found out friday a teacher from school was getting layed off is because he has not been there as long as the other teachers and he is the first person that makes me want to come to school everyday and I find a way every way even if I have no way there I would run. Unlike other teachers he gets kids not just to come to school but to do their work. There are teachers in my school that do not even do anything to improve on students or help them out when they need it and he does this and it makes me angry and I want to do something about it but I do not know how and once I hear about Mr. Miko. Communities need to help out and try to keep the teachers that help out students. The sad part in all of this is that the man I have been talking about is not even a teacher that I have a class with and he has a big impact on my life I want to better in every aspect of my life because of him.

    They should not be getting rid of teachers that make a difference just because they have not been there for as long as other teachers if anyone would like to give me suggestions for regarding what I should do please email me at twilightcullen14@yahoo.com

  • Ryan

    Mr.Miko is definitely the greatest teacher ever had. He inspired me in that one short year I had in his class, telling me and all my other friends and peers that we could all strive to seemingly unattainable goals or in other words he gave us dreams. To begin these dreams, in fields anywhere from astronomy to zoology, we started the after school science club that was previously mentioned in the article. Even though we sat around studying science articles and testing experiments that would have made most other students bored out of their mind’s it created a fun, exciting, and enjoyable environment that always highlighted the end of my week and of my friends.

  • Ryan

    Mr. Miko is definitely the greatest teacher I’ve ever had. In that one short year we had with him he caused my friend and I to strive for unattainable goals or in other words he gave us dreams. He showed us that science truly is fun. To do this he set up a science club that my friends and I were quick to join if not only to spend more time with Mr. Miko. After a time though this science club became a true comfortable learning environment were he was teaching us anything from astronomy to zoology. We always came and sat down to work on our projects reading about and studying topics that would have made most of our peers yawn, yet we continued to do it with a fiery passion.

    I can still remember my project which was a study on whether or not allergies were a genetic trait. This may sound like one of the most boring subjects out there but with Mr. Miko there to help me along it was a blast and I couldn’t wait to come and work on this every week. For the study Mr. Miko let me send out a random survey in the school packet and I then we collected them to find the data.

    Over the summer of that year me and my friends often came to school to find my teacher there. Once there we would just hang-out there like he was a friend more then a teacher. Which in truth, he had become.

    That year of science club spurred my fiends and I to coming back in my sixth grade year to help out with the 5th graders project and then later working on the Disney Eco challenge in which we went out to the Ballona wetlands to help clear out the trash and invasive plants. In the competition we won semi-finals in the state against some teams that worked on this every day in their normal class rooms instead of every Friday with a couple of mismatch kids.

    This project is still on going and my friends and I (the Eco Kids) still come to the restorations.

    During the summer in between sixth and seventh grade I went to Mr. Miko’s science camp on rocketry. It was probably the best part of my summer. After one of the days my friends and I went to one of our house and spent hours sitting around a table with a two liter soda bottle trying to figure out how to get the most hang time. Also he had many science text book’s sitting on the table we worked on at the camp and I picked one up and asked if I could take it home. After he had said yes I spent the rest of the week reading a robotics book that was probably five hundred pages long, eight inches wide and eleven inches tall. I read through this book which was a dry study book like it was the greatest novel ever written.

    Currently I am in seventh grade and still go to science club with the other “Eco Kids”. Also I still dream about careers in every aspect of science. Losing him would be the worst decision the union has ever made.

    This week in my math class I was talking to my friend in my math class in between the bells telling him that Mr. Miko was getting fired and a girl sitting a couple of seats in front of us looked over and said, “Oh, hey I remember him. He was great right?”

    At this my I was astounded because this was a kid that had never come to science club yet she still remembered Mr. Miko (as I later asked her) as a phenomenal teacher and probably the best she’ll ever have and by far the best she’s ever had. She too had been touched by his scientific brilliance even though she had never really dove in.

    I know as a kid I have always been told that I could never change anything this big and that something like this was bound to happen eventually, yet somehow Mr. Miko changed my mind he got me to try, he got me to believe.

  • http://www.mdoffwithamerica.com Edmund Druilhet

    Well i’m not suprised at the results of the Idiots running our schools. Obviously it is a dumming down of society when you see the lack of gratitude for this amazing young teachers contribution and heart to go far beyond the required. After all a teacher like this one might inspire our children to think. They would rathera school of fish where one turns and they all turn. For the students to repeat things told to them on the test sheet every friday, rather true or not you get a A if you repeat what you were taught. They would prefer for the children to never ask questions, to get one of 25 jobs pay taxes and go to church..lol Wake up parents fight for your children and for yourself. Thank you Mr. Miko you are a hell of a man. We have not forgot your heart and dedication to humanity and the children will never forget you.