Employment
MYP 1 & 2 Science Teacher
Le Jardin Academy, Kailua HI (2016-2017)
- Designed and instructed MYP 1 (grade 6) integrated science and MYP 2 (grade 7) life science courses at K-12 International Baccalaureate (IB) school with focus on inquiry labs, global citizenship, and project-based learning
- Facilitated yearlong field investigations and service learning in Kawainui Marsh with the Division of Land & Natural Resources; coordinated an overnight marine science enrichment trip with the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology
- Founding faculty advisor of the middle school Environmental Science Club
Education Policy Fellow, Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship
Office of U.S. Senator Al Franken (D-MN), Washington DC (2015-2016)
- Advanced the Senator's K-12 and postsecondary education priorities under the direction of the Legislative Director
- Conducted legislative research and synthesized information to write memos, remarks, correspondence, and bill text
- Staffed Senator Franken at meetings, hearings, and events related to education
- Met and corresponded with various stakeholder groups and Minnesota constituents regarding education issues
Science Teacher, Assistant Principal, Science Curriculum Chair
Star of the Sea School, Honolulu HI (2012-2015)
- Designed and instructed grade 6-8 integrated science courses
- Coordinated trip to the National Geographic BioBlitz on Hawaiʻi island
- Assistant Principal duties included school-wide curriculum and professional development work, managing student behavior issues, and serving as acting Principal
- Science Curriculum Chair duties included facilitating school-wide science curriculum alignment, providing science resources to elementary teachers, and authoring the science self-study for school accreditation
- Implemented From Mauka to Makai: Understanding Climate Change in the Ahupua'a, a year-long program of STEM-based environmental field studies, culminating in original conservation projects
K-12 Science Curriculum Supervisor
District Office, St. Lucie Public Schools, Fort Pierce, FL (2011-2012)
- Founded the district’s Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics (STEM) initiative
- Aligned science curriculum documents in grades K-12 to state and national standards
- Facilitated teacher professional development in science content and research-based pedagogy
- Designed quarterly benchmark assessments for science grades 3-12 and analyzed student achievement data
- Produced the St. Lucie County Regional Science and Engineering Fair and the St. Lucie Community Science Showcase
- Hosted "Teachers of the Year" interview show on the St. Lucie County Education Channel (WLX-TV)
Science Teacher, Science Department Chair, Science Fair Coordinator
Southport Middle School, St. Lucie Public Schools, Port St. Lucie, FL (2006-2011)
- 2012 St. Lucie County Teacher of the Year; selected from hundreds through interview and observation process
- 2012 Southport Middle School Teacher of the Year; selected through schoolwide faculty/staff vote
- Designed and instructed grade 7 life science and advanced life science courses
- Facilitated yearlong program of field investigations in Savannas Preserve State Park supported by grant writing
Education
New England College, Henniker, NH (2007-2011)
M. Ed. Curriculum and Instruction; Thesis: Place-Based, Experiential Learning in Middle School Science
Upper Valley Educators Institute, Lebanon, NH (2005-2006)
Teacher certification; Student-taught in 10th grade Biology/Marine Biology and 8th grade Earth Science
Emerson College, Boston, MA (1999-2002)
B.A. cum laude Major: Communication Arts; Minor: Science
Sea Education Association, SEA Semester, Woods Hole, MA (Spring 2001)
Studied nautical science, oceanography, and maritime history onshore and aboard the SSV Corwith Cramer
Miss Porter’s School, Farmington, CT (1993-1997)
Private college preparatory boarding school for girls
National Publications
"The Microscopic World of Plankton" Anuschka Faucci, Joanna Philippoff & Cristina Veresan, ScienceScope, January 2019
"Life Lessons at Hawai'i BioBlitz" Cristina Veresan, National Geographic Education, June 2015
"Cristina Veresan Meets the Arctic Food Chain" Cristina Veresan, National Geographic Education, November 2014
"Expedition Photography (for beginners!)" Cristina Veresan, Huffington Post online, June 2014
Volunteer & Internship Experience
Program Coordinator for Exploring with Einsteins
Richard Byrd Library, Springfield, VA (2015-2016)
- Established and coordinated a series of hand-on STEM workshops for diverse groups of low-income youth (many English-language learners) by current Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellows; co-instructed multiple workshops for the program
Volunteer Exhibit Interpreter, Facility Rental Assistant
Waikiki Aquarium, Honolulu, HI (2012-2016)
- Presented natural history information and guided visitor observations at an outdoor reef exhibit
- Coordinated and managed children’s birthday parties at the aquarium facility
NOAA Teacher at Sea, Fisheries Research Technician
Midwater Assessment and Conservation Engineering Program (MACE), Gulf of Alaska (summer 2015)
- Assisted with fisheries data collection for Walleye-Pollock acoustic-trawl survey aboard the NOAA ship Oscar Dyson under the supervision of Chief Scientist Darin Jones ; Designed lessons related to fishery science and NOAA careers
Teacher Intern
Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Port St. Lucie, FL (summer 2011)
- Assisted with vivarium duties and basic science (Bradford assay, Western Blot technique) in biomedical lab under the supervision of Principal Investigator Dr. Jay McLaughlin
Professional Development
Ethnomathematics and STEM Institute (2016-2017): one of 20 teachers in Hawaiʻi selected as an Institute scholar for yearlong program of coursework, Hawaiian culture-based field experiences and curriculum development
National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship (2014): one of 25 nationally-selected educators honored with yearlong professional learning experience including an expedition to Arctic Svalbard, media and community outreach, and curriculum development
Space Foundation Lucy Enos Memorial Scholarship (summer 2014): honored with scholarship to attend weeklong Kinesthetic Astronomy Course at the Space Foundation in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Science Teachers Aboard Research Ships (STARS) Fellowship (2013): selected through competitive application to participate in a three-day Center for Microbial Oceanography Research and Education (C-MORE)/University of Hawaii oceanographic research cruise
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Science Fellowship (2010) one of 30 secondary science educators nationally-selected for a summer workshop in FDA/USDA labs in Washington, D.C., classroom implementation of "Science and Our Food Supply" curriculum, and facilitation of a teacher workshop
Selected Training:
International Baccalaureate (IB) Delivering the Middle Years Programme (MYP) Sciences Category II (2017)
Google Creations: Amplifying Communication, Collaboration, Critical thinking, & Creativity, Ed Tech Teacher (2016)
National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project Teacher Workshop (2013)
Marzano Art and Science of Teaching (2011-2012)
Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures (2008-2009)
Professional Associations & Presentations
Member, National Science Teachers Association (2006-present)
- Presenter “Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship” (2016 NSTA National Conference)
- Presenter “Exploring Global Regions and Resources with National Geographic Education” (2014 NSTA National Conference)
- Presenter “Common Core + Science Standards= Scientific Literacy” (2013 NSTA National Conference)
- Invited Presenter “Real Life Frozen: An Arctic Adventure” (2015)
- Invited Presenter “Measuring Biodiversity: Life in the Limu” (2017)
- Presenter “Exploring the Arctic : My National Geographic Teacher Fellowship” (2014 HaSTA Annual Conference)
Member, Florida Association of Science Teachers (2006-2012)
- Presenter “Implementing Common Core Literacy Standards in Secondary Science” (2011 FAST Annual Conference)
- Presenter “Connecting students to nature through sustained field work in Florida State Parks” (2010 FAST Annual Conference)
With Bill Nye the Science Guy