Dan Ary, a graduate of the Teacher Education Program at UC Santa Barbara’s Gevirtz School, received the 2013 Faculty Excellence Award from Laguna Blanca School in Santa Barbara. Ary, a math instructor at Laguna Blanca since 1992, received his single subject teaching credential in mathematics from The Gevirtz School in 1976.
The criteria for the Faculty Excellence Award include: excellent teaching and professionalism, the ability to contribute to Laguna Blanca program enhancement, engaging in the wider Santa Barbara community to support the mission of the school, consistently working with students outside of class time, and being a magnet for positive student interactions. The annual award, generously endowed by Marilyn and Steven Gutsche, includes a cash stipend, as well as professional development funds that can be used for workshops, conferences, and teaching materials or equipment.
Prior to his teaching career, Ary was the corporate director of computer services of General Research Corp. for 18 years. He has also been a math instructor at Santa Barbara City College for 10 years, teaching everything from basic algebra to calculus.
Laguna Blanca School is a K-12 co-educational, college preparatory day school in Santa Barbara. It guides students to greater heights by building upon an 80-year tradition of academic excellence with new and innovative teaching methods and programs.