About Me

Renee Covert 

2023-2024

Resident of: 

Greenville, SC 29607

Students and parents are often excited and sometimes worried about what teacher they will have on their new school year schedule. This page is about putting you at ease to help you know a little about me. I have lived in Greer for 6 years before moving to far south Greenville where I have lived for over two years. I came to SC from Chicago, IL to be closer to family located in Taylors, Pickens, Rock Hill, and Fort Mill. I also have family in Clarkesville, Georgia, Chicago, IL suburbs, WI, MN and LaPorte, Indiana. Needless to say, I do a lot of long weekend road trips to spend time with family!

I have a Norwegian Elkhound and a minature long-haired Dachshund puppy. In my spare time I like to hike mountains and waterfalls, ride my bike, walk/run, paint and draw. I also like to travel and when not returning to Chicago, IL or Indiana to see family I do like to see the USA on road trips or by flying. My husband is owner of Covert Contracting Inc., in Naperville, IL. I have a son who is married with a wife and three daughters living in Taylors, SC. My daughter is married, a nurse at Baptist-Easley and has three sons and a daughter living on a sweet little farm "YummyAcres" in Pickens, SC. My youngest daughter is married, a special education teacher and lives in Plainfield, IL with her two sons. I have nine grandchildren. 

I attended St. Xavier University in Chicago, IL for my undergraduate degree BS.EL Ed with an endorsement to teach K-9 all subjects, Science, Art and Middle school endorsed. I graduated Magna Cum Laude and was awarded Kappa Delta Pi membership by invitation for high GPA, community involvement and academic excellence. I was a recipient of the Elaine Gallagher Science Scholarship. I also earned scholarships for high GPA and Deans list for transfer. I hold teaching licenses in IL and in SC. I am certified for PBL, CPR, and CPI.

I attended Concordia Chicago University in River Forest, IL for my graduate degree M.Ed in Academic Leadership with my principal's administrative license being held in IL and in SC. 

Currently, I am teaching middle school science, a position I have held for over fifteen years. Prior to teaching, I was involved in education at a school district business office as a confidential administrative clerk. I was involved in all facets of the education processes behind classroom scenes. This combined experience is not often found in those seeking employment for administration. Our office served four schools that fed into H-F high school. I held many positions within the office, the last being Coordinator for the Director of Teaching, Learning, and Accountability. I specialized in providing the curriculum and assessments for the entire district, as well as hosting professional development events several times each year. I facilitated the NCA AdvancEd accreditation compliance and grant writing both state and national. The experience I gained working in the district office was invaluable as I sought to expand my career into teaching. 

I chose the middle school level for teaching because it is a critical development stage for children who are seeking to become adults yet often may feel like a child. My first assignment brought me to a classroom where six prior teachers had walked out. The students expected that I was just number seven, but through consistency I was able to win their trust and we were able to accomplish many things that year. Not much teaching had gone on prior to my arrival, but I was able to implement a Scope and Sequence, conduct hands-on activities and labs. I successfully prepared the students for the state assessments as my students met on the state exams. 

I began teaching sixth grade in South Holland, IL. When I heard of an opening for an eighth grade science teacher at a nearby school, I pursued and accepted a local classroom position in Matteson, IL. I was a track coach for the middle school and high school while teaching in IL. I was recruited from out of state recently as I moved to Greenville, SC and hold an eighth grade teaching position at Riverside Middle School and served as the building level science chair in 2016-17 and 2017-18. I enjoy being a track coach with jumpers for Riverside High School.  

I enjoy working with all levels of students and it is rewarding to see low mastery students making gains to moderate and/or high mastery. Students who range in moderate or high mastery make measurable gains as well. My classroom is hands-on and student centered. I possess good classroom management and have consistent procedures and policies in place. Students are able to access a differentiation table where they choose to extend their learning in targeted areas. I use a lot of creativity along with state standards and data to drive instruction. I headed the Science Fair for our school in IL and sponsored top ten qualified students for regionals and state competition. I volunteered as the awards chair for the IJAS Region #9. I also taught home-bound students and summer school.

I am a life-long learner who seeks to increase my knowledge of curriculum, 21st Century goals, technology, standards-based best practices, and learning strategies. I became very interested early in the NGSS proposals which are tied to SC state standards. I have worked with the SCSS writing team to continue to help prepare our state science learners. I actively use Webb's Depth of Knowlege practices in my classroom lessons. I like to inform students of what DOK level they are working at and preparing them for high school with critical thinking skills. 

I once won a trip to LA to meet Jane Goodall. It was an interesting highlight in my career to meet this amazing woman at Jane Goodall Live for her 50th anniversary. I flew to LA and attended the studio where ESPN is taped LIVE. I stayed in an amazing hotel in Agoura Hills, ate at Malibu Beach cafe's and hiked in the mountains! Dr. Goodall speaks of hope for the future and is truly inspirational about global change.

Renee Covert, M.Ed