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Unwavering Commitment to Public Health

EcoHealth Awards Public Health Teacher of the Year to Lone Hill Middle School Teacher, Lesley Allizadeh 

A woman smiling in front of a large grassy field with trees and a few buildings in the background.
  • Lesley Allizadeh from Bonita Unified School District was awarded Public Health Teacher of the Year for 2024
  • Student participation in community science is particularly critical in years with high mosquito abundance and disease risk in the San Gabriel Valley
  • Teachers supporting Operation Mosquito G.R.I.D., a community science project, provide students community engagement in fight against mosquito-borne disease

Lone Hill Middle School 8th grade science students in San Dimas are wrapping up another successful year in the fight against mosquito-borne disease. “Lesley Allizadeh enrolled in our EcoHealth Operation Mosquito G.R.I.D. in 2022.G.R.I.D. stands for Growth Reduction and Increased Detection and the program empowers students to take charge of the areas around their homes and gives students the opportunity to practice key microscope skills in the process. Mrs. Allizadeh hit the ground running that year by training another teacher, Mrs. Harb. The San Dimas community is lucky to have this duo, collectively training over 800 students in 3 years!,” said San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District (SGVMVCD) Education Specialist, Kriztian Luna Corona.

"Operation Mosquito G.R.I.D. brings real-world science directly into the classroom, helping students understand the importance of controlling mosquito-borne disease in their own communities.” 
A person watering a plant in a garden with a wall and greenery in the background.

This community science program isn’t just busy work, it makes students’ backyards an extension of the classroom. When asked what challenges she faces in the classroom, Allizadeh said, “One of the biggest challenges in teaching science today is keeping students engaged in a world full of distractions. Operation Mosquito G.R.I.D. brings real-world science directly into the classroom, helping students understand the importance of controlling mosquito-borne disease in their own communities.” She said this unit is always one of the most popular of the year and that it sparks excitement and curiosity. Since this program is free, it “helps overcome some of the financial limitations schools often face,” Allizadeh added. 

Three students in a lab with a microscope, one using a smartphone, possibly to capture the microscope's view.

The 2024 summer and fall were marked by a series of locally-acquired dengue cases in San Gabriel Valley. When asked how that impacted her teaching during this unit, Allizadeh said, “The cases of locally-acquired dengue fever really deepened my commitment to teaching about mosquitoes and brought the issue much closer to home for my students. The [news of the dengue cases] served as a powerful reminder that what we learn in the classroom isn’t just theoretical–it can have real-world consequences.” Through their participation, Mrs. Allizadeh’s students took samples from their homes, successfully identified mosquitoes at all life stages, and learned about mosquito biology and bite prevention strategies.

SGVMVCD is profoundly grateful for teachers like Mrs. Allizadeh and Mrs. Harb for promoting public health and making a huge difference in their community. EcoHealth’s Operation Mosquito G.R.I.D. continues to grow due to the participating teachers and their dedication to provide top-notch science education for their students. EcoHealth is a free, NGSS-aligned program offered by the SGVMVCD. Educators, homeschool program coordinators, librarians, and administrators can book a free class presentation or community science program by visiting VectorEducation.org.