Honors Biology!

This is Mr. Vallejo's web page for science classes at Chatsworth High School in the Los Angeles Unified High School District. Chatsworth is located in the northeast corner of the San Fernando Valley in sunny southern California. Downtown Los Angeles is located just 30 miles to the southeast.

Ben Vallejo is an adjunct professor of biology at Moorpark College, as well as one of the first forty-nine (11/01) National Board Certified Teachers in secondary science (AYA/Science) in the state of California. The total number of NBCTs in the state in all areas was 3080, as of September 2005. Nationwide, there are just over 40,000 NBC Teachers. One of Mr. Vallejo’s areas of expertise is the area of performance-based assessment of the California state science content standards, as he has worked as a consultant for the California Department of Education on the statewide Golden State Examination. He is also knowledgeable in the area of science literacy strategies, and has recently written an article on word walls for the National Science Teachers Association journal, The Science Teacher. Mr. Vallejo is also interested in developing distance learning opportunities, and is currently working with Coastline Community College (CA) to develop an online biology laboratory course. In addition to his current assignments, Mr. Vallejo has spent his over twenty years as an educator at Reseda High School and the North Hollywood High School Animal Studies/Biological Science Zoo Magnet Center at the Los Angeles Zoo. Mr. Vallejo is also a mentor/master teacher for the Los Angeles Unified School District and the California State University, Northridge (CSUN) Single Subject University Intern Program. He is on the faculty at Chatsworth Senior High School, where he has taught a myriad of classes, including Advanced Placement Environmental Science, biology (honors, college-preparatory, and sheltered), marine biology, integrated science, and advanced physical science.