I remember vividly being in third grade, watching some of my peers struggling, and thinking to myself I wonder if the teacher tried doing it this way if they would understand. You could say I've been thinking about becoming a teacher for a while! I began my teaching career in public elementary schools (4th and 5th grade), worked in informal science at museums and residential environmental education programs (preK-8th grade), and along the way also taught swing dancing (east coast swing or jitterbug). Whether it was students struggling with new concepts and skills or dancers claiming they had two left feet, I still find myself wondering how to best meet their needs, much like my 8 year old self. Of course, I know much more about effective teaching now! My own research-- and that of my colleagues-- informs my teaching.
As a teacher educator, I have taught a variety of courses, including:
Development and Learning in Elementary Classrooms
Early Childhood Science Methods
Elementary Science Methods
Middle/Secondary Science Methods
Early Field Experience/Practicum in Science
Teaching Engineering in K6 Classrooms
Exploring Teaching (Freshman Interest Group Seminar)
Documenting Teaching/ Internship Seminar
Exploring Principles of Physics
I have also taught a several different graduate level courses for inservice teachers and prospective teacher educators, including:
Orientation to the PhD program
Designing and Teaching the Science Methods Course
Leadership in Science Education
Teaching Teachers
The Nature of Science & Science Teaching
I am fortunate to have been recognized with several teaching honors throughout my career, including being named Teacher of the Year at Killearn Lakes Elementary School, being selected as an Outstanding New Science Teacher in the Leon County Schools District, receiving an Outstanding Associate Instructor Award in the IU School of Education, receiving a prestigious William T. Kemper Fellowship at University of Missouri (2011), and being named Outstanding Science Teacher Educator (2014) and Outstanding Mentor (2019) by the Association for Science Teacher Education.