I'm Dr. Kelly Dempewolf and it's my first year teaching at WRHS. I have a BA in Chemistry from Colorado College, a MA in Science Curriculum & Instruction from UMKC and a PhD from UNL where I studied cognition, efficient learning and how to use technology to accomplish efficient learning. I have a National Board Certification in Science (Adolescent/Young Adult) and Kansas accomplished license in Chemistry, Physics and Math.
I taught chemistry and physics for 10 years in Johnson County and Topeka. After earning my PhD I took a post-doc position running an NSF funded GK-12 grant program at Kansas State University. The program placed 8 science graduate students in Junction City High School classrooms each year for them to bring their cutting edge research into the classroom and learn to communicate with non-scientists and a wider variety of audiences than scientists are typically good at communicating with. I was the person between the high school and university worlds that helped the grad students and teachers work together and introduced the grad students understand the education system, teaching methods and communication techniques. The program is a 5-year program and when it was completed I worked at Kansas Dept of Education for just over a year where I realized that I am really not a cubicle/answer phones/work in an office type of a person! About that time my daughter became sick and was diagnosed with Celiac. I quit my job and opened Shana Cake - a gluten free and allergy-friendly bakery. I used my chemistry background to develop delicious allergy-free recipes and fill a need in our community that was not otherwise being met.
I'm now back in the classroom and excited to begin this adventure teaching math!
I have two kids - Caleb is a sophomore and Shana is in 8th grade - both in Shawnee Heights, and my husband Kevin works at Frito Lay. And of course I can't forget our two dogs Bailey and Buggy! :)