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Yes - my name is actually Mrs. Stem!
(I married the most absolutely wonderful Mr. Stem YEARS before I was a STEM teacher!)
I am a scientist with a lot of practice at problem solving who loves to teach!
I'm a mother of 3 awesome kids: one at Gonzaga University and twin teenagers here at Erie High School. Our family has lived in Erie since 2000. My kids are Erie "lifers," attending Erie Elementary, Erie Middle, and Erie High. I am so proud of the humans they are and they bring me so much joy watching them share their talents with the world!
Other things I am passionate about are reading, coffee, and my critters!
My History as a Teacher:
An alumna of The University of Notre Dame (GO IRISH!) with a double major in biochemistry and psychology, I thought I was going to be a neuroscientist! However, during my fellowship at CU's Institute for Behavioral Genetics, they "made me" be a teaching assistant and I fell in love with teaching. For 5 years I taught high school chemistry, physical science (Freshman Chem/Physics), and CU Succeed Gold/AP Biology at Monarch High School in Louisville, CO. In 2005, I began my "early education sabbatical" as a full-time mom. Because I truly love teaching, I always knew I'd return to the classroom when my own kids were school-aged. When the opportunity arose to teach STEM in the same school as my kids, I became endorsed in Elementary Education. And so since 2011, I am proudly Mrs. Stem the STEM teacher! Wow! It doesn't get better than this!
My History as a STEMist:
I've always been the type that wants to know how things work! From dismantling my parent's home phone and clothes washer to learning computer programing and playing with circuits as an elementary student to dissecting brains and analyzing DNA electrophoresis as a graduate student, I really love learning the details and mechanisms of everyday life. Additionally, many of the jobs I have had were in STEM-fields. During college, I worked as a research and development technician for an industrial surfactant/soap chemical company in Madison, IN. After undergraduate school, I was a medical transcriptionist and an aide to an occupational therapist in Los Alamos, NM. And before starting graduate school, I worked in a civil engineering firm in Boulder, CO. I'm passionate about many areas science but, if I had to choose, neurochemistry and space might be my favorites.
Awards/Recognition:
Erie Elementary Tribute to Teacher of the Year, 2022
Colorado Association of Science Teachers (CAST), Region 1 Representative, 2021 - current
SVVSD Innovative Curriculum Recognition, 2017
SVVSD Gold Star Recognition Award, 2015
Space Foundation Teacher Liaison, 2014 - current
Jared Polis Foundation Teacher Recognition Award, 2013
ReNew Our Schools - Elementary Winner, 2013
SVVSD Encore Award Finalist, 2012, 2013
CU Succeed Gold Instructor for Biology, 2004
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