IFI: Introductory Workshop, February 7-12,

Exploratorium Institute for Inquiry
Introductory Workshop
February 7-12, 2005

Participant Biographies

BLAHST (Black Hills Science Teachers)

Della Mader

I teach 1st grade science and I have served on our science curriculum review committee. I have attended 114.5 hours of science classes offered through our BLASHT program. I am continuing to take classes offered and encourage new staff in our school to participate also.

Lola Kleinschmit

I am presently teaching 5th grade at Wall School in Wall, SD in a self-contained classroom. I do not teach the Math, but instead teach 6th grade science. I am the science lead teacher and have been since 1999. The past 20 years were spent teaching science in the Middle School, but due to a reduction in staff and declining enrollment, I was moved to the 5th grade. I have been involved with Black Hills State University's BLASHT science reforn project since it began in 1999. I have moved from teaching totally out of a book to barely using a book to teach science. I teach all the science through the use of FOSS, STC, SEPUP, and INSIGHTS kits available through loan through this project. For the last two summers I have also been involved with teaching other teachers how to use some of the FOSS kits in the MIddle School . I encourage my fellow teachers to not let science go to the shelf if they do not have enough time in the day to cover anything, but to try to involve the teaching of science and the strategies used into the other subjects. I have taken over 260 classroom hours in science curriculum focusing on Inquiry based methods and content area. I love teaching science and my students declare that science is one of their favorite subjects.

Sandy Nichols

I serve on our school district's science curriculum committee. I am the 3rd grade contact person for any science-related question. I mentor new teachers in our grade level in the teaching of science in their classroom. I make sure everyone has the tools they need to conduct science lessons. Currently, I am serving on our state (SD) science curriculum standards committee. I have conducted workshops for other teachers based on the FOSS kits for BLASHT. I will help conduct a 4-day workshop for BLASHT during the summer of 2005 and will also provide inservice training for the teachers in my district.

In 2002, Holly was accepted to attend a Harvard University Institutue entitled "Focus on Accountability". Holly has also attended multiple basic and graduate level inquiry training sessions at the San Francisco's Exploratorium's Institute for Inquiry.

Theresa O'Connell

I teach second grade science in the Douglas School District. I have been a lead teacher for the twelve teachers in my grade level for the BLAHST project for the last 4 years. I ensure that all the teachers have the materails they will need to teach science and I encourage them to attend workshops. I have attended over 200 hours of professional development through the BLAHST project.

Next summer I will help teach a four-day workshop based on this experience to other teachers in the BLAHST project as well as offer inservice training to elementary teachers in my school.

Center for Science Teaching and Learning

Jackie Menasco

As a Science Education Coordinator at the center for Science Teaching and Learning, my promary responsibility is to develop partnerships with schools in Arizona who are interested in pursuing a reform-based approach to scinece teaching and learning. In this capacity, I provide professional development services focused on the following:

assisting schools/districts in learning about and understanding the vision of science teaching and learning set forth in the NSES
aligning that vision to the Arizona Standard for Science
assisting teachers in implementing the use of inquiry-based practices, resources, and materials
building the leadership capacity to support reform-based science teaching and learning

Joelle Clark

I am a Science Education Coordinator for the Center for Science Teaching and Learning at Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff. My primary responsibilities are related to the professional development and leadership focus that the CSTL provides in science education. I am a former archaeologist and science educator who has designed and taught science curricula and professional development programs with preservice, inservice, and informal educators. Among my professional interests are standards-based science curriculum support and implementation, curriculum and professional development for informal science agencies, and designing interactive lessons for educational CD ROMS.

Nationally, I provide professional development for the Lawrence Hall of Science GEMS Program and for Project Archaeology, Montana State University. I have developed educational materials for the National Park Service and am part of the curriculum revision team for Project Archaeology. I am a Project Archaeology facilitator and co-state coordinator for Arizona, the NAU GLOBE Partnership Director, GEMS Associate II, FOSS leader, Resource Education Network Founder and Member, Chair-elect of Society for American Archaeology's Public Education Committee, and member and former chair of the Archaeology for Educators Committee of the Arizona Archaeological Council.

I share my life and love of travel, river rafting, hiking, and the outdoors with my husband Roger (married 16 years) and two children (son, Jean-Philippe- 15 and daughter, Janine- 11)

Kristen Moorhead

Asa University Reasearch Associate, my primary responsibility is to develop and maintain partnerships with Arizona schools related to reforming science education. Within these partnerships I primarily serve as a professional developer focused on the following outcomes for teachers:

To increase understanding of NSES and its relationship to state standards.
To Improve teaching and learning proactices to reflect the vision and intent of NSES.
To enhance teacher leadership capacity related to curriculum decisions in science.

Sharon Cardenas

I am an instructor in the Center for Science Teaching and Learning at Northern Arizona University and I also coordinate a tri-university on-line teacher certification program for prospective secondary mathematics and science teachers. I teach several courses for the preparation of mathematics and science teachers including: Secondary Science Teaching Methods, Secondary Science Techniques, Secondary Curriculum, Evaluation of Learning, Structured English Immersion, and Supervision of Student Teaching and Practicum courses. During the summer, I also work with a team to develop and conduct professional development sessions for in-service teachers. In all of these endevors, helping teachers and pre-service teachers understand and implement inquiry is a major part of what I do.

I have attended the "Introduction to Inquiry" professional development workshop held at the Fort Worth Museum of National History in Ft. Worth, Texas, and implemented Brownsville Independent School District's Secondary Science Teacher Inquiry Institute Professional Development Training for the 2002-2003 school year, which was modeled after that training.

I look forward to attending this professional training and plan on using what I learn to further help pre-service and in-service teachers experience, understand and use inquiry in their classrooms.

Greater Philadelphia MSP (Math Science Partnership)

Dorothy Egner

I am actively working on Vertical Teaming to develop smooth transition/ skills for Science from Elementary to Middle Scholl to High School and the integration of the three districts that we send to our High School

Eric Smith

As the new Supervisor of Science I am responsible for K-12 Science instruction in the district. I cover Curriculum Design, Scope and Sequence, Professional Development., (soup to nuts).

Mary Byrne

As a member of the Math and Science Partnership I will be working with participating school districts to develop professional development programs and make curriculum changes.

Jackson Public School District

Ellen Williams

No bio submitted.

Patricia Green

No bio submitted.

Kalamazoo Area Inquiry Team

Marcia Fetters

I hold a dual appointment at Western Michigan University in the College of Education as a member of the Teaching, Learning, and Leadership Department and in the College of Arts and Sciences in the Mallinson Institute of Science Education. In both of these departments I have responsibilities in science education, elementary and secondary education. The Mallinson Institute has a long history of providing professional development opportuniites to practicing teachers. Workshop and enrichment opportunities are provided in the areas of: Content, Pedagogy, Inquiry, Nature of Science, History of Scienceand Science Education, plus Research Traditions in Science and Sceince Education.

My research interest and focus is around making scinece accessible to individuals who are often marginalized from the science community. Additional information about my work and the work of the Mallinson Institute can be located on my website at: http://homepages.wmich.edu/~mfetters

Mary Burke

For the past year and a half I have been working for Western Michigan University on a National Science Foundation Grant titled "Enlist, Equip, and Empower". I have several responsibilities for the grant, the first being to enlist undergraduates to enter the middle school science education program soon to be offered here at WMU. Providing these undergraduates with workshop experiences that are directly related to middle school science education also is part of my job. At the same time I am responsible for designing and facilitating professional development workshops throughout the year to local middle school science teachers. The topics for these workshops have been implementing inquiry into your classroom and examining student work and instruction. When I am not working for Western Michigan University, I am a seventh grade science teacher in Vicksburg Community Schools. I work with a team of seven science teachers, of which I am the department chair. Being science department chair, I am responsible for facilitating goal setting, meeting coordination, and communication between buildings and administrators. This past year I was involved with facilitating an inquiry professional development workshop to K-12 teachers with my district.

Paul Vellom

At Western Michigan University I hold a primary appointment in the College of Education where I am the lead instructor for Elementary Science methods as well as coordinator for the Elementary Teacher Education Program. I have a joint appointment in the Mallinson Institute for Science Education in the College of Arts and Sciences which enables me to teach and advise in the science education graduate programs. Over the last two and a half years I have worked with other instructors to revise our elementary science methods course, which serves approximately 600 students/year, to be more inquiry-based and to support our preservice teachers in understanding how to do more classroom inquiry. I am confident that this course is better, but am also sure we could learn a bit more.

During the summers I teach workshops for practicing teachers. I have also been working with a local district on curricular reform for elementary-level science. On campus I also participate in two separate grants that support reform of instruction at the college level, towards inquiry methods.

My recent research has included a focus on characterizing development in preservice teachers of science and other subjects.

LIGO

Faimon Roberts

I have directed the science professional development programs for LaSIP since 1992. I have worked with universitites through Louisiana to increase their efforts to provide standards-based learning oppportunities through over 100 science, mathematics, and leadership professional development projects. The projects are collaborations between universities and school systems designed to provide teachers with knowledge of standards based reform, enhanced science content, teaching methodologies, and alternative assessment strategies. I have been the lead science person in the collaborative effort between LaSIP and the Louisiana Department of Education to develop the Louisiana Science Framework (approved 1997) and the Louisiana Assessment Framework and new Criterion Reference assessments. I have served as a staff person on the Louisiana Collaborative in the excellence of preparation of teachers, which woked toward charging the university course curriculum for all students. I am currently working with the Louisiana GEAR UP program and the LIGO Educational Outreach Project on science professional development.

James Dillon

Allying teacher education courses with elementary mathematics and science with general goal and objectives of the project.

John Thacker

As the Program Leader for the LIGO Science Education Center, I will be the focal point for all PD activities that are planned and conducted at LIGO. I will be responsible for the day-to-day operations, the on-site teacher training, exhibit maintenance and production, docent training and local "expert" on the application of LIGO science fundamentals to our floor exhibits. As part of our teacher training outreach, I will participate in the selection process for the PD providers as well as provide some PD instruction related to LIGO science concepts to teachers taking PD at LIGO.

Personal History: Retired U.S. Coast Guard Commander; Captained the cutters Acacia and Red Cedar; five years experience teaching math and physics at High School level in Louisiana public schools; Apointed to LIGO outreach position in August 2004

Joseph Meyinsse

No bio submitted.

Linda Ramsey

I serve as the Director of CATALyST, a K-12 mathematics and science education center that is housed in the School of Biological Sciences at Louisiana Tech University. In this role I work with a staff of 6 additional full time individuals to design and deliver professional development programs for teachers from Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas. Programs with which I work have been funded through the state (LaSIP, LINCS, La GEAR UP, LaCEPT), NSF, and the US Dept of Education. I am working with the LIGO and LaSIP/LINCS/LaGEAR UP programs and people from Southern University to develop a professioanl development program in connection with the Exploratorium exhibits that are being developed for LIGO. One of the teacher participants who works closely with CATALyST attended a month long high school physics program at the Exploratorium this past summer.

Luria Stubblefield

My major responsibility with the LIGO Project is to coordinate and implement pre-service teacher training and in-service teacher professional development activities.

Roosevelt Peters

No bio submitted.

Rutherford McNair

My major duty is to increase students' understanding of Erarth Science through lecture and laboratory activities. I am also responsible for evaluating students comprehension through question and answer sessions, essays, student presentations, and unit exams.

Maui Economic Development Board

Emily Haines

My major responsibilities include integrating math and science into technical fields within our career technology classes. I am also responsible for a program called project EAST. The mission of Project EAST is promoting the intellectual growth of all students, regardless of their socio-economic background or previous level of achievement. By engaging students in an educational environment steeped in emerging technoligies and focused on self-direction and community service, students can achieve more and become life-long learners and problem solvers.

Keith Imada

Our major responsibility is to assist with elementary science curriculum ideas and goal setting strategies. We have met with elementary teachers in our complex (High School, Middle School, and Elementary) to discuss areas of emphasis in helping our students achieve our stae's science standards. We continue to work with local, district and state science officials and colleagues to formalize ways to evaluate the content and performance of student works submitted for our state science standards.

Lester Kunimitsu

My major responsibilities include integrating math and science into technical fields within our career technology classes. I am also responsible for a program called Project EAST. The mission of Project EAST is promoting the intellectual growth of all students, regardless of their socio-economic background or previous level of achievement. By engaging students in an educational environment steeped in emerging technologies and focused on self-direction and community service, students can achieve more and become life-long learners and problem-solvers.

Stillwater Public School District

Gina Morris

Major responsibilities beyond that of a regular classroom teacher include:

Leadership as Association Negotiations Chair
Member of Cadre initailly piloting an inquiry based mathematics curriculum
Support National Board candidates as they go through the process
Facilitate study group sessions in math and literacy

Kristi Dickey

As a teacher leader in Stillwater Public Schools responsibiliites include:

Leadership in instituting a 1st-2nd grade "looping" program at Sangre Elementary.
Active involvement as a facilitator in the Math Science Partnership program; implemented May 2004
Leadership in the Content Coaching Program by facilitating Collaborative coaching teams.
Provide support to National Board Candidates.
Serve as a member of the literacy/science cadre and as a trainer/facilitator with the "Actively Investigating Mathematics Program".

Laura Smith

As a member of the training cadre, responsibilities include:

Conducting module workshops for Stillwater teachers; from Ponca City and teachers attending the Science PDI.
Coaching and training new teachers to the assigned grade in Stillwater and Ponca City.
Teaching the module kits (STC) each year in the classroom.
Participating in and conducting leadership institutes for Cadre Members from Stillwater, Ponca City and other districts.
Teacher facilitator for Math Science Project and collaborative Coaching in Mathematics.
Supporting National Board Candidates through the process.

Ryan Blake

Responsibilities beyond routine administrative role includes:

Providing professional development for teachers
Supervising designated instructional staff
Serving as administrator/leader for school team participating in an Assessment/Benchmarking project in 8th grade science funded by Regents for Higher Education and the Southwest Regional Educational Laboratory.
Former science teacher; graduate work focused on inquiry.

University of Wyoming

Diana Wiig

No bio submitted.

Elena Singer

I am part of the Project Inquiry team and will providing PD to teachers along with the Project Inquiry team to teachers from participating school districts.

Jim Johanson

I teach 6th Grade at Churchill Elementary School. I am responsible for teaching all Language Arts, Math, and Science in a self-contained learning environment. This is my 15th year of teaching and my second year teaching in Wyoming.

Judith Ellsworth

As Director of the SMTC, I am responsible for helping create opportunities for UW faculty to provide quality science content and pedagogy for graduate students entering the field of science education and for inservice teachers working on graduate degrees or professional development activities. I also teach some of these courses.

As a faculty member in the College of Education, my teaching areas are: 1.) classroom assessments 2.) elementary science and mathematics methods.

Kate Muir

I teach EDEL 4409 Teaching and Learning Science and Mathematics to our elementary education majors. I also work closely with Laramie County School District #1 in Cheyenne, WY. We are in the process of developing a Professional Learning Community where LCSD#1/UW jointly offer professional development for mentor teachers and student teachers. We are in the third year of such a partnership.

Ron Canterna

I was part of the development team for science and mathematics courses for elementary education majors. Furthermore, I teach both the earth and physical science courses for elementary education majors. These courses are offered on campus in a traditional format and on the internet. I teach courses in the MS program for teachers offered through the Science and Mathematics Teacher Center. As an adjunct faculty member I also supervise graduate thesis work, in particular in the physical science area.

Scott Chamberlin

My responsibilty is to coordinate with fellow Math and Science methods instructors at the University of Wyoming. As a whole our charge is to instruct pre-service teachers during their last semester on campus just before student teaching.

Sonja Browe

I am a member of Albany County School District's Scinece curriculum committee. We are responsible for writing district standards and curriculum documents, implementing state policies in regards to standards, and choosing curriculum materials for our district. (All of these will effect science education reform in our district.)

Tammy Caywood

Our district will be focusing on the adoption of a new science program in the 2005-2006 school years. I will be serving on the adoption committee. Currently, I am a 2nd grade teacher. I am collaborating with a team of Wyoming educators and University faculty to create a science institute for primary teachers in our state.

Exploratorium Institute for Inquiry Introductory Workshop February 7-12, 2005 Participant Biographies