Phil Lafontaine
Phil Lafontaine is the Director of the Professional Learning Support Division within the California Department of Education (CDE). His division oversees many statewide professional development programs as well as provides technical assistance to schools and districts in all curricular areas including STEM. Currently, he is California’s lead in the national effort to develop the Next Generation of Science Standards, which will become the basis for the revised California Science Standards. His division also provides assistance in the areas of both teacher and administrator quality and certifications. Prior to becoming the director, he was the administrator of the Mathematics and Science Leadership Office at CDE. Phil has provided professional development seminars and workshops both statewide and nationally in the area of science education, while he was a Regional Director for the K-12 Alliance, a statewide professional development organization of WestEd. As a curriculum writer, Phil has developed an environmental education curriculum entitled, Earth Resources, A Case Study –Oil, and has provided guidance on various curricular science projects including video productions. Additionally, as a professional teacher for 21 years, Phil taught earth science and environmental science courses at the secondary level. Phil graduated from California State University at Chico, and holds a professional teaching credential in both music and Earth science. He received his Masters of Arts in Education, specializing in Educational Leadership, from California State University, Sacramento.
