KEVIN BOCK
CHEMISTRY TEACHER
Everest Public High School
Redwood City, California

Kevin Bock’s love of teaching came early in life.  Working with his fellow high school classmates at the Illinois Math and Science Academy, Kevin developed an elementary science assembly program that is still being used in Chicago-area schools.  The program was turned into a DVD science show and hailed by the Nobel Laureate Leon Lederman as “proof that learning science is fabulous fun!”

As a dual chemistry and political science major at Yale University, Kevin began to explore science education from a political angle.  His experience as past vice president of the College Democrats of Connecticut came into play.  “Research has plenty to say about the effects of poor education on a child’s future.  Obviously, students at our worst urban schools are disadvantaged and something needs to be done.” 

One of Kevin’s most memorable moments came when he was student teaching a chemistry class.  He arranged for the classroom to look vandalized and everyone, including the teacher, was a suspect.  The students formed a forensic science team, “applying serious chemistry concepts to investigate and reach conclusions about chemical evidence left behind by the perpetrators.”  The class was “fantastic evidence of what students can do on their own when their teachers respect them and give them the opportunity to thrive.”