The Singing Janitor and Other Stories: Leon's Adventures in Science Education

Leon Lederman had a passion for science education. He knew all students would not become scientists and believed in teaching everyone the process of science and taking time to tell science stories. Students may not remember F=ma, but they will remember the stories! We tell the stories behind Leon's contributions to K-12 science education. Giving opportunities to young people was a driving force of Leon's life. He started Saturday Morning Physics at Fermilab and was a founder of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. Understanding that educators could use help responding to the call for enhancing science education in the 1983 national report, A Nation at Risk, he helped establish a non-profit to support programs for K-12 educators at Fermilab. He created the Fermilab Education Office and arranged for the establishment of the Leon M. Lederman Science Education Center. Nationally, perhaps he is best known as a champion of P-C-B or Physics First. Leon had a way of bringing people together, of inspiring others—scientists, engineers, educators—to collaborate with him on education reform. He was a physicist, a professor, a champion for science education!