Professional Bio

Since graduating from Colgate University with a BA in Biology in 1999, Joanna's career has been a dynamic mixture of ecological research, classroom teaching and informal education. She taught students about the natural science as a graduate student at the Teton Science Schools (TSS) and later as an assistant scientist aboard the research schooners with Sea Education Association, Woods Hole, MA. Her overarching ambition was to integrate the effective learning opportunities these informal venues offered students into the formal classroom. Thus she returned to school to receive her Masters in Education and K-8 certification (science emphasis) from University of Michigan to teach middle school science. Throughout her formal teaching career, Joanna worked with the FOSS Project, piloting middle school science curriculum and spending summers learning from their Professional Development staff. She remembers fondly and vividly her energetic conversations with the FOSS directors about revitalizing OBIS (Outdoor Biology Instructional Strategies) and was thrilled to become an employee at the Lawrence Hall of Science in July 2008. Joanna is now a curriculum specialist working primarily on outdoor initiatives for the FOSS Project and modernizing OBIS.

Expertise & Interest Descriptors

outdoor science, ecoliteracy, curriculum design, professional development, connections to formal education, NSTA

Planned Conference Participation

Attending :: North American Association for Environmental Education 38th Annual Conference
October 7-10, 2009