About Executive Director Marilyn Nemzer
Marilyn has a long history of interest and work in education and counseling – and in her community. She is currently serving her fifth term as an elected trustee on the Marin County Board of Education. She is a long time Rotarian and is Past President, now International Chair, of the Rotary Club of Tiburon Sunset. Marilyn and her husband, Ken, live in Tiburon (Marin County), California, and are the proud parents of Louis “Lex” (Boston, MA); Jordan “Joe” (Tiburon, CA) and Nicole “Nikki” (Palos Verdes, CA).
Below you’ll see the recognition and many awards Marilyn has won for the thousands of hours she has given over the years to better the lives and opportunities of children at home and around the world.
Marilyn’s Education Activities
• President, Marin County Board of Education. Marilyn was elected to the Marin County Board of Education in 2001 and is currently serving her fifth elected term. Before joining the County board, she served for 17 years (from 1983-2001) on the Marin County Committee on School District Organization.
• Executive Director, The California Study, Inc., a nonprofit organization that Marilyn began in 1975 and formally incorporated in 1987. Through the several present and past projects of this organization she has administered and directed the activities; provided counseling and trouble-shooting with students, parents and school folks; arranged for fundraising and community and school outreach; and trained volunteers of all ages. Through these programs she has stayed involved with teachers, students and parents from both the private and public school communities. With few exceptions, Marilyn’s work has been mostly as a volunteer. Listed below are the projects of The California Study, Inc. and Marilyn’s role in them.
– Director, Energy Education Group: Editor, Co-Author of “Energy for Keeps.” Energy education project to help people understand where our electricity comes from and how energy choices affect our lives, our environment, and future generations. In addition to her local education activities, Marilyn has been leader in renewable energy education, co-authoring and publishing public information and curriculum for students in grades 2 – 12 in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy and the California Energy Commission. Many of her group’s publications have won national recognition, including awards from the U.S. EPA, the Smithsonian, and National Science Teachers Association. See below. See also her affiliate nonprofit, the Geothermal Education Office.
From 1989 through the early 2000’s, working together with Anna Carter, a longtime geothermal specialist – and with many generous industry volunteers – Marilyn led the Geothermal Education Office to develop popular geothermal education publications, presentations and programs for elementary and high school students and public information materials for use by industry, agencies, the media, and others. The website is still active, as much of the information is very basic and still current. Marilyn is still very involved with the energy industry and is still active in promoting geothermal as an vital part of today’s renewable energy mix.
• CEO Emeritus of The Book Exchange. Until the end of May 2024, Marilyn led this all-volunteer organization which she founded in 1987. Beginning June 1, 2024, assets and operations were transferred to the Book Exchange of Marin. The Book Exchange of Marin operates the same joyous literacy program that gets books to thousandsof under-resourced children every year. As Emeritus CEO of the former Book Exchange, Marilyn is excited to serve on the Book Exchange of Marin board of directors.
The following projects of The California Study, Inc. are currently inactive but were founded and run by Marilyn for many years:
– The Study. Private tutoring service. As Director, Marilyn spent many hours talking with concerned parents and provided counseling and guidance for situation-appropriate solutions. Operated for 16 years throughout the S.F. Bay Area.
– The Teachers’ Registry. Substitute teacher placement service for private and parochial schools; operated for 10 years.
– School Success Counseling. Private counseling service to help students and parents navigate the school experience.
In addition to – and mostly (but not all) preceding – the above, Marilyn has had many years of work experience within the more formal school setting:
• Substitute Teacher, Stuart Hall School for Boys & St. Hilary’s Elementary School.
• GATE Consultant, Coordinator, Peer Tutoring Program, Terra Linda High School, San Rafael City Schools. A one-year position. Organized, administered and set up for sustainability an in-school tutoring program. Designed and implemented all student tutor-training and related counseling.
• Tutoring Program Consultant, Marin Education Foundation. A one-year position. Researched all tutoring programs and academic support options available in Marin’s public high schools.
• Counselor, Bayside Middle School, grades 6-8, San Mateo City School District; seven years. Personal problems counseling; group and individual counseling; peer/bullying counseling; scheduling and programming for 350 students; community outreach/parent meetings; liaison with local high schools; teacher support; liaison between special education classes and other school activities; administrative support; general trouble-shooting; development and administration of inter-school tutoring and student aide programs (middle school students as aides to K-5 classes) during regular school year and as summer school program for entire district.
• Attendance Supervisor (long-term substitute, six months), Washington High School, San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). Counseled truant students and their parents; home visits.
• Counselor (internship) Fremont Elementary School (now closed), grades K-5, SFUSD
• Teacher (French and English) and Counselor, St. John’s Ursuline High School (now closed), San Francisco. Founded the school’s counseling program and counseled students before and after school during her four years of teaching here.
• Student Teacher (French), Galileo High School, SFUSD
• Teaching Assistant (French), San Francisco State College
Professional Affiliations
CURRENT:
President, Marin County Board of Education, now serving fifth term
Board member, Book Exchange of Marin
Marin County School Boards Association (Secretary)
California School Boards Association
Rotary International
FORMER:
Association of California School Administrators
American School Counselor Association
California Environmental Education Foundation
North American Environmental Educators Association
Geothermal Resources Council, Board of Directors, 1993 – 2013
International Geothermal Association
Publications
Web Pages:
Selected Multi-Media:
Introduction to Geothermal Energy. Slide Set: of text, graphics and photos. 1999. See on GEO website. Geothermal Energy: A Renewable Option. Video, gr. 6 – adult. Director and co-author of script.1998A Down to Earth Adventure. Video, gr. 3 – 5. Producer, co-author. 1993.
Selected Printed Materials:
Geothermal Energy. Article for Microsoft Encarta CD-ROM Encyclopedia 2000. Co-author. Geothermal Energy. Elementary and middle school curriculum, co-author. 1995. A Global View of Geothermal Energy. Geothermal statistical map; designer and co-author, 1993 & updates. Activity supplement for Project WET (unpublished), in collaboration with The Watercourse (Univ. of Montana) and the Idaho Water Resources and Research Institute (Univ. of Idaho). Editor. Many other publications.
Education
Lowell High School, San Francisco
BA Comparative Literature, University of California, Berkeley (includes 1 year, University of Bordeaux, France)
MA French, San Francisco State CollegeJr. College & Secondary Teaching, life credentials,
Credentials earned from San Francisco State College & University of San Francisco: High School teaching, Elementary teaching, Pupil Personnel (counseling). Supervision Instructional Programs & Principalship.
Recognition & Awards
Education and Community Service Related
Jefferson Award for Public Service, 2009
Point of Light Celebration honoree, recognition as one of 25 top volunteers in S.F. Bay Area, 2005
Tiburon-Belvedere Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce, recognition for community service, 1996
Marin County Commission on the Status of Women, commendation, 1996
Marin County Office of Education, Marin County School Boards Ass’n., Golden Bell Award, 1994
Marin County Volunteer of the Year, 1988
Environment Related (solid waste recycling)
Award of Excellence from the Marin Economic Commission for The Book Exchange, for “contributions to a vibrant and sustainable economy.” 2004
Marin Community Foundation, Earth Day Every Day award, for the Global Book Exchange, 1996
National Environmental Awards Council (Renew America), for the Global Book Exchange, 1990
Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX, commendation, for the Global Book Exchange, 1990
Renewable Energy Related
Joseph W. Aidlin Award. “For her long-term commitment to the Geothermal Resources Council and extraordinary devotion to the promotion of geothermal energy through education.” Geothermal Resources Council (now Geothermal Rising), 2014
National Green Power Leadership Award, 2006. Sponsored by U.S. EPA, U.S. Dep’t. of Energy, and Center for Resource SolutionsInterstate Renewable Energy Council, Innovation Award for Energy for Keeps, 2004
Geothermal Energy Association, Most Informative Award, Exhibit Booth, Geothermal Resources Council Annual Meeting, San Francisco, 2000
Nat’l. Science Resources Center (of Smithsonian Inst. and Nat’l. Academy of Science) Recommendation of geothermal curriculum co-authored by Ms. Nemzer. 1996
Geothermal Resources Council Special Achievement Award., for public education efforts, 1993
The California Study is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization. Tiburon, CA – Tax ID #94-2860620