Patti Works

Expert Areas
Elementary science instruction, curriculum design, assessment, instructional practices and pedagogy

Professional Career
Patti joined the Regional Teacher Partner team with 31 years of teaching experience in Iowa and Kentucky (Fayette County Public Schools and Paris Independent Schools). She taught multiple grade levels as an elementary classroom teacher and spent 18 years specializing in science instruction as an elementary science lab teacher.

Since retiring in 2014, Patti has continued her work as an elementary science consultant and professional learning leader. She currently serves as a reviewer of High Quality Instructional Resources (HQIR) for the National Science Teachers Association. She also worked as a professional learning consultant with Amplify Science, coordinating professional learning for Fayette County Public Schools during their district-wide implementation of this HQIR and supporting teachers nationally. Patti recently concluded a five-year project with BSCS Science Learning, leading professional learning for Kentucky 4th and 5th grade teachers in the STeLLA program.

Earlier in her career, Patti contributed to a three-year FOCUS Grant (Facilitating Operational Communities for Understanding in Science), participated in the State Science Leadership Network, and co-led the Fayette County Science Leadership Network. She was a member of the NGSS Lead States Development Team and later served as a team leader for Fayette County’s Design and Development Team, creating pacing guides and instructional objectives for NGSS-aligned instruction. Patti also taught the Elementary Science/Inquiry Methods course as an adjunct professor at Transylvania University and worked with UK Biology on the Sustainability and Garden Science project, integrating school gardens into classroom science learning. As part of her work with PIMSER, she has supported multiple grant projects, including MUSE (Modeling for Understanding in Science Education) and IES (Integrating Engineering in the Sciences), and continues to lead professional learning networks for K–4 teachers in Fayette County.