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.) Patti has worked as an elementary classroom teacher in multiple grade levels, and specialized in science instruction as an elementary science lab teacher for 18 years. She retired in 2014, and works as an elementary science consultant. During her years in Fayette County, Patti worked with teachers at the district level on a three year FOCUS Grant (Facilitating Operational Communities for Understanding in Science), and has been a participant in the State Science Leadership Network the past four years. She was a co-leader of the Fayette County Science Leadership Network, which organized and lead Professional Learning Communities and teacher training in science content and instructional design, involving teachers from 35 elementary schools in FCPS. After being a member of the NGSS Lead States Development Team, Patti was a team leader for Fayette County's Design and Development Team, building pacing guides and instructional objectives for NGSS instruction. She currently serves as an adjunct professor at Transylvania University for their Elementary Science/Inquiry Methods Course, and has worked with UK Biology on a three year project, Sustainability and Garden Science, in conjunction with Fayette County Public Schools, using school gardens to reinforce classroom science lessons. As a part of her work with PIMSER Grant Groups, Patti worked with the MUSE Grant (Modeling for Understanding in Science Education) and the IES Grant (Integrating Engineering in the Sciences). Patti also leads Professional Learning Networks with teachers in grades K-4 with the Fayette County Public Schools.
Degrees and Certifications
BS in Child Development, Iowa State University
MA in Elementary Education, Georgetown College
Rank 1 certification in Elementary Education, Writing in Science Emphasis, Kentucky Department of Education, Continuing Education Option
Certified to teach Grades K-8
Awards and Associations
Kentucky Elementary Science Teacher of the Year, KSTA, 2006
Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching for 2012
ABC Award (Above and Beyond the Curriculum), Cassidy School, 2014
Kentucky Science Teachers Association
National Science Teachers Association
Society of Elementary Presidential Awardees
ASCD Member