Amir Abo-Shaeer
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Amir Abo-Shaeer | |
---|---|
Born | |
Education | B.S. Physics, M.S. Mechanical Engineering, M.Ed. Secondary Education |
Occupation | Engineer |
Engineering career | |
Employer(s) | Santa Barbara County School District |
Projects | Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy |
Amir Abo-Shaeer (born March 20, 1972) is an educator. In 2001, during his first year of teaching, he established the Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy (DPEA) on the Dos Pueblos High School campus. Aside from being the Director of the DPEA, he teaches physics, engineering, robotics, machining and manufacturing. His focused outreach efforts have yielded 50% female student enrollment in the DPEA. He was also named a MacArthur Fellow in 2010.
Early life
Amir was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where his father was teaching physics at the university. Before his first birthday, his family returned to Santa Barbara, where he has resided ever since.
As a child, he could always be found taking things apart to figure out how they worked. Obsessed with Legos from an early age, Amir says playing with them fostered his love for all things mechanical.
While in college and his twenties, Amir played the drums and was the lead singer for the band Superhip Funkadelic, which performed all original music. The artists that influenced his songwriting are Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, and Curtis Mayfield.
He graduated from Dos Pueblos High School and attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he earned a B.S. in Physics, a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, and a M.Ed. in Secondary Education.
Career
Amir began his career as a mechanical engineer in the private sector. He worked on research and development in academia, aerospace, and telecommunications before deciding to pursue a career in education.
Early on, he taught physics, wrote curriculum, and developed courses for the DPEA. He eventually decided that the capstone course for the senior class would revolve around the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), which requires students to design and construct a 150 lb. robot to compete against other robots in a game challenge that is different every year. The DPEA is known as Team 1717 in the FIRST community.
In 2007, he garnered a $3 million California state matching grant to create a 12,000 square-foot engineering facility on the high school campus to support the implementation of the Career Technical Education (CTE) curriculum he created.
New York Times bestselling author Neal Bascomb wrote a book chronicling Abo-Shaeer’s visionary teaching, his quest to transform education, and his 2009 FIRST robotics team’s competition season. The New Cool will be released March 1, 2011.
Non-profit foundation
The Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy Foundation (DPEAF) was established in 2008 by Amir and parent and community volunteers for the purpose of raising $3 million in matching funds to secure the state grant.
Construction of the facility is currently underway and is scheduled for completion in July, 2011. The DPEAF is still raising funds to purchase industry-standard machinery and equipment for the building through their Gearing Up! campaign.
Honors and awards
- 2006 Honorary Service Award
- 2008 Santa Barbara Partners in Education Outstanding Career Technical Educator
- 2008 Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO) Community Hero
- 2008 Venoco Incorporated Crystal Apple Award
- 2008 Goleta Educator of the Year
- 2008 Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition
- 2009 Santa Barbara Rotary Outstanding Service Award
Personal life
In 2001, Amir married his wife Emily. They have a daughter.