Fiona Steelman-Allen
 
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My Background

I was born in Sarnia, Ontario. My family moved to Seattle for a short time, but not for
long. When I was two years old, my parents returned to Australia. I spent my early childhood moving around Oz (Australia). For the most part, we lived in Cairns, Queensland - right along the Great Barrier Reef - and Alice Springs, Northern Territory - right smack dab in the middle of the Red Center.

During my mid-elementary school years, my mom, my brother and I took a long vacation. We took the scenic route over to Michigan to visit family - traveling to places like Alaska along the way. Well, we never went back to Australia, so I guess I'm still on vacation! We settled in Michigan and I spent the rest of my school-days there. By the time I graduated from high school, I'd attended 10 different schools!

After high school, I attended Michigan State University, earning a BS in Dietetics (Nutrition). Soon after I moved to Chicago and was able to use my science degree to get a job as a Laboratory Biologist. I worked in the General Toxicology Department at IITRI (the Illinois Institute of Technology Research Institute) for just under two years. Most of my time was spent working on various research trials focused on colon, prostate, and lung cancer. I also participated in preliminary diet-based cancer preventative studies. Although I was interested in the work I was doing, there was something missing. I decided to go back to school to become a science teacher.

I was able to take advantage of a new program at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) focused on secondary science education. So, while working at IITRI, I attended IIT and earned my Secondary Teaching Certificate.

As part of that program, I completed my Student Teaching Internship at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School in Oak Park, Illinois where I taught both 7th and 8th grade. I also completed an Informal Education Internship at the Art Institute of Chicago. Directly after finishing the program at IIT, I moved to Central Illinois. Since moving to Champaign, I have received my Middle School Teacher Endorsement from Illinois State University.

I started working as a science teacher at Franklin Middle School in 2004. During this time, I have had the opportunity to work with wonderful people - especially the students! It has truly been, and will continue to be, an enriching and rewarding experience.