Developed a Wonder Essay Curriculum and discussion questions for the paperback edition of Aimee Nezhukumatathil's NYTimes-bestselling World of Wonders (2024).
Ethnomathematics and STEM Institute(2016-2017) one of 20 Hawaiʻi teachers selected as an Institute scholar for yearlong program of Hawaiian culture-based coursework, field experiences and curriculum development
NOAA Teacher at Sea Program (2015) one of 24 nationally-selected educators invited to join the science team aboard an ocean research vessel, including blogging and curriculum development
Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship(2015-2016) one of four nationally-selected secondary STEM educators honored with a yearlong placement as an education policy fellow in Washington, D.C. Congressional office
National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship(2014) one of 25 nationally-selected educators honored with yearlong fellowship including: an expedition to Arctic Svalbard; media and community outreach; and extensive curriculum development
St. Lucie County Teacher of the Year(2012) elected from thousands through interview and observation process to represent the district at various events including the Florida Teacher of the Year recognition program
Employment
Science Teacher, 5th Grade Trip Coordinator The Nueva School, Hillsborough, CA (2019-present)
Design and instruct grade 5 integrated science course and electives at independent PK-12 school serving gifted learners with focus on social-emotional learning, environmental justice, and design thinking
Coordinate all grade 5 trips including local field work, service learning, and a weeklong expedition to Monterey
5th/6th grade Advisor
2020 Dan L. Chu Outstanding Faculty Award recipient
Mentor Teacher in Nueva's Innovative Teacher Program (2020-present)
Developed and delivered these Nueva Summer courses: Our Rocky Intertidal, Coral Reef Ecology, Hands-on Genetics, and Embroidered Portraits
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 program of 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
7th grade Advisor and founding Faculty Advisor of the Environmental Science Club
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 Hawaiʻi island for the National Geographic BioBlitz and service learning projects
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
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
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; Communication Arts and Biology 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
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)
Selected Professional Development
Teaching Global Climate Change in Your Classroom, National Geographic (2020) Storytelling for Impact in Your Classroom: Photography, National Geographic (2020) Sharing Nature: An Educator's Week on Maine's Hog Island, National Audubon Society (2019) How to Deliver a Nat Geo Educator Certification Phase I Workshop, National Geographic (2019) National Geographic Educator Certification, National Geographic (2019) Long-term Monitoring Program and Experiential Training for Students (LiMPETS) Sand Crabs (2019) Making the Most of Science Notebooks, California Academy of Sciences (2019) Long-term Monitoring Program and Experiential Training for Students (LiMPETS) Rocky Intertidal (2019) 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)
Assisted middle and high school students with coursework
Developed and delivered science lessons for the LabSci Program
Program Coordinator for Exploring withEinsteins 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
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
Assisted with vivarium duties and basic science (Bradford assay, Western Blot technique) in biomedical lab under the supervision of Principal Investigator Dr. Jay McLaughlin