Biotech Pioneer -- Retiring teacher was biotech trailblazer
SignOnSanDiego.com > News > North County -- Retiring teacher was biotech trailblazer


Retiring teacher was biotech trailblazer

Biotech
Biotech

By Triveni Sheshadri
UNION-TRIBUNE COMMUNITY NEWS WRITER
December 18, 2005

SAN MARCOS – On a recent afternoon, Jan Mongoven led about a dozen students in his honors biotechnology lab class through the process of making a gel to separate DNA strands of E. coli bacteria.

That was one of the last times he stood before a classroom at San Marcos High School.

Mongoven retired Friday and bade goodbye to his lab, students, colleagues and the only school he had known in his 32-year teaching career.

He is credited with starting the county's first honors genetics class at the high school level.

Mongoven said the idea sprang from a student's suggestion.

"It was back in 1979," he said. "I had finished teaching an anatomy class and there were students who were eager for more. One of them said, 'Why don't we do genetics?'"

The class became so popular that the school added four sections. Later in 1994, Mongoven started the honors biotech lab class that combines molecular and microbiology and DNA science.

Mongoven, 55, was named California Teacher of the Year in 2000, an honor he shared with four other teachers in the state.

The career trajectory of many of his students is a testament to Mongoven's influence as a teacher. Several have earned advanced degrees and are pursuing successful careers in biology, biotechnology, medicine and teaching.

High Tech
Funny Jokes
Funny Jokes
Funny Jokes
Arizona Entrepreneurs

Biotech News

Arizona Biotech

Biotech News

Arizona Entrepreneurs

Arizona High Tech