EDUCATION

• ABD (PhD will be granted May 2006); University of Minnesota, Curriculum and Instruction: Science and Mathematics Education. Research focus is science education in inclusive classrooms.
• MA (1999). Science and Mathematics education. Fresno Pacific University, Fresno, California.
• Minnesota State University, Mankato (1993). Fulfillment of required courses for undergraduate minor in chemistry/biology.
• BA (1979). Liberal Studies/Education, California State University, Northridge, CA.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota. Instructor: Department of Education, 2000 through present.
Courses taught:

• EDU 246/247: Science Content for Elementary Education Majors
• EDU 248: Science Connections
• EDU 371: Elementary Science Methods and Materials
• EDU 373 : Elementary Mathematics Methods and Materials
• EDU 385 : Interdisciplinary Methods.
• EDU 241: Educational Technology.

St.Joseph-St. John's School, Mankato, Minnesota. Kindergarten teacher, 1988-2000.
Science and Mathematics Professional Development for Educators, 1996 through 2005.
Bedford open School, Camarillo, California. Long-term sub, 5/6th grade, 1987.

RESEARCH
Dissertation Research: (Fall 2005): Phenomenological research study that examines the experience of special education and regular education students as they study a life science unit featuring monarch biology and ecology in three middle school classrooms in an urban Midwestern public school district.

Collaborated with Teacher Research Network (TRN) and SCI/MATH MN in qualitative study of new science and mathematics teacher practices, content knowledge, and professional development from nine instructions of higher education in Minnesota, 2000 through present. Data collection included: interviews, surveys, observations, and field notes. Leadership role in analysis of data from all mathematics and science elementary teacher participants.

PUBLICATIONS
Exploring Math Series, (2001). Author of high interest series of math books that explores various mathematical topics with simple text, photographs, and illustrations. Each book provides a hands-on activity that supports the math content area. Mankato, Minnesota: Capstone Press. Titles of the series are:

• Patterns: What Comes Next?
• Size: Many Ways to Measure
• Sets: Sorting Into Groups
• Numbers: Counting it Up
• Shapes: Discovering Flats and Solids
• Fractions: Making Fair Shares

HONORS AWARDS

• Doctoral Student Fellowship (Spring and Summer 2003); University of Minnesota, Curriculum and Instruction.
• American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS): Size: Many Ways to Measure selected as one of the best mathematics books for children published in 2001.
• Evangelical Lutheran College Association (ELCA) Study Grant for Continuing Education, 2001, 2002.
  
• Woodrow Wilson Fellow (Summer 2001) in Environmental Science at Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey.
• AIMS Scholarship 1996-1999, Fresno Pacific University, CA
• Delta Kappa Gamma Scholarship, 1985, CSUN, CA

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

• University of MN (Summer 2005): Lead instructor for "Ecology of Insects": A summer course for teachers.
• National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) (2005): Science Coordinator. Coordinated field science experiences for youth participants in insect ecology and wildlife gardening for 5 weeks.
• Gustavus Adolphus College, "Two Days of Math Learning and Teaching Workshop for Teachers of Grades K-5", July/August 2002.
• Gustavus Adolphus College, led a team from nine institutions of higher education in the state of Minnesota in a study and review of the science content that is necessary and appropriate for the undergraduate student who will be a future educators, June 2001.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

• ASTE 2006 International Conference  Paper Presentation: (2006); Portland, OR: Longitudinal Study of Beginning Teachers: Emerging Themes.
• MN Science Teachers Association; (Oct. 2005): Meeting the Needs of the Diverse Life Science Student in Middle Schools.
• National Council of Teachers of Mathematics National Convention, 2004:  Helping Children to Master Basic Facts, Philadelphia, PA.
• Regional Meeting of National Science Teachers Association (2003): How Do You Develop Guided Inquiry in the Elementary Classroom?, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 
• National Council of Teachers of Mathematics National Convention, 2002, Helping Children to Master Basic Facts, Las Vegas, Nevada
• National Science Teachers Association National Convention , How Do You Develop Inquiry in the Elementary Classroom?,  2002, San Diego, California
• SCI/MATH MN Transforming Teacher Education, Science Content Course Study Results, April, 2002, Brainerd, Minnesota
• Minnesota Science Teachers Association Annual Convention , What is Guided Inquiry? October 19, 2001, Minneapolis, Minnesota
• National Council of Teachers of Mathematics National Convention, 2001, Geometry and Spatial Sense in the K-5 classroom, Orlando, Florida
• National Council of Teachers of Mathematics National Convention, Measurement in the K-2 Classroom, 2000, Chicago, Illinois
• National Council of Teachers of Mathematics National Convention, Data Collection and Analysis in K-6 Classrooms, 1999, San Francisco, California
• National Council of Teachers of Mathematics National Convention, Geometry and Spatial Sense in the K-5 classroom, 1998, Washington, DC.

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updated: January 4, 2006