Students find Educator of the Year's lessons enchanting

Eric Anderson has got teaching down to a science. But how he does it remains enigmatic.

"He has lectures, but they're interesting," said his Krystal Olsen, 13. "I don't really know why, they just are."

Principal Ferd Mariani has a supernatural explanation.

"His lessons and labs are magical," he said. "They allow students to become engulfed in science."

For six years, Anderson has enchanted students with science at Eagle Valley Middle School, leading the Science Olympiad team to three state titles.

A Milken Award winner in 1999, he was named this year's Educator of the Year for the Carson City School District.

"He is one of the most knowledgeable, articulate, caring, honorable and courageous people I know," Mariani said, during the presentation of the award at Tuesday's Carson City School Board meeting. "At EVMS, we are proud to honor him as Teacher of the Year. And personally, I am honored to have him as a friend."

Anderson, 43, grew up in Tucson, Ariz. He attended Northern Arizona University on a music scholarship, but graduated with a degree in geology in 1984. He received his bachelor's degree from the same university in 1990.

After teaching for a semester in Wickenburg, Ariz., he transferred to Las Vegas where he taught at Bonanza High School from 1987 to 1993 and at Las Vegas Academy from 1993 to 1996.

In 1996, he took a job with the Nevada State Department of Education as a science consultant, where he helped establish the state's curriculum standards.

"They say you don't know how much you love something until it's gone," Anderson said. "There were some great professional things that happened, but boy, I missed teaching."

After two and half years with the state, he returned to the classroom.

"It's been wonderful," he said. "This is just an awesome school to teach at. I look forward to coming to school every day."

And the students look forward to his class.

"He's a really good teacher and he listens to what you have to say," said Matt Grunert, 14. "He knows how to explain things so you know exactly what he means."

His sense of humor - apparent by the tie-dye lab coat he wears in class - keeps the students under his spell.

"He's funny," said Casey Lillard, 14. "When something's funny, I learn better."

Although Anderson initially had reservations about teaching middle school students, he has found them to be bewitching.

"I love kids," he said. "I love their silliness and their energy. To be surrounded by them probably extends my life - they give me strength."

Anderson and his wife, Mara, have three children, Ian, 19, Megan, 17, and Erinn, 16.

Contact Teri Vance at tvance@nevadaappeal.com or at 881-1272.