About

About.

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Kathleen A. Renfrew

147 McKinley Drive

Barnet, VT 05821

Phone 802-633-3026

Email: kathy.renfrew@state.vt.us,  KRScienceLady@gmail.com

 @KRScienceLAdy

 

Education 

 

  • Master’s Degree in Science Education, VT Science Initiative, Final Project- Science & Literacy, VT State College System, Lyndon State College, Lyndon, VT 2005.
  • Master’s Degree in Education, Professional Educator, Final Project- Integrated Curriculum, Trinity College, Burlington, VT.,1994
  • Bachelor of Science, Human Development, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA. 1973.

 

Professional Experience

 

 

·         Professional Learner/Collaborator 1973- present – A continuous seeker of new learning

·         K-5 NGSS Science Consultant (details provided upon request)

·         NGSS Curator – 2013 – present

·         NSTA Learning Center Online Advisor– 2010-present

·         K-5 Science Assessment Coordinator – Vermont Agency of Education, 2011-2014

·         K-5 Science & Math Assessment Coordinator-Vermont Agency of Education, June 2008- 2011

·         Teacher, Peacham School Grade 5/6, September 1997 – 2008.

·         VISMT Teacher Associate, Vermont Institute of Science, Math, & Technology June 1997 – June 1998.

·         Teacher, Peacham School Grade 5/6 September 1993 –1997.

·         Instructor, Peacham Science Curriculum, University of Vermont, 1997.

·         Director/Teacher, Peacham Summer Science Camp 1995.

·         Instructor/Moderator, INTEC (online science course through the Concord Consortium ).

·         Facilitator/Leadership Team, LabNet (an electronic bulletin board for math and science teachers of all levels).

·         Teacher, Waits River Valley School, East Corinth, VT. Grade 4, September 1979 – June 1993.

·         Teacher, Bradford Elementary School, Bradford, VT. Grade 4/5, September 1978 – June 1979.

·         Teacher, Fleming Primary School, Flemington, Australia, Grade 3/4, February 1977 – May 1978

·         Teacher, Wantirna South Primary, Wantirna South, Australia, Kindergarten

 

Professional Development

 

  • Collaboration in Professional Learning Community with NSTA’s online Advisor program  2010 –present
  • Writing NGSS –evidence statements and developing model content frameworks for Grades K -5.
  • NGSS training – many different venues
  • BCSSE Conference in Denver CO
  • Translating NGSS with Renee Affolter & Dave White
  • EQUIP rubric for Evaluating Instructional Sequences or Units
  • What’s the Evidence?  Constructing Explanations in K-5 Science Classrooms- hybrid face to face workshop  followed by online PLC , face to face  and ?? began May 2014-ongoing.
  • Training as an NGSS Curator
  • Vermont Science Initiative-Through auditing/monitoring MSP projects, I have received additional content and pedagogy.
  • Attendance at National Academies of Science Virtual Workshop on Science & Literacy November 2013
  • Vermont Professional Development Science Network Leaders Training , Summer 2005 –2007.
  • Skillful Teacher Course ( very similar to  formative assessment course, similar strategies recommended), 2006.
  • NASA Earth Science Institute , UMASS, 2005.
  • Differentiated Instruction  (3 year summer course ).
  • Critical Friends Training.
  • Science Standard Setting.
  • Teacher Associates Meetings 1997.
  • Standards in Action Conference.
  • Bridges to Mathematics (math content training for Everyday Mathematics).
  • Teacher-Researcher for Continuous Assessment in Science Project.
  • Discover Earth/Oceanography (2 week summer course ) .
  • Advanced Inquiry Workshop  (Exploratorium with Wynne Harlen ).
  • Discover Earth,  a NASA 2 week course on NSF research boat out of Woods Hole (July 1997).
  • Science, Technology & Children/ Insights Train the Trainer Institutes, Northeastern University, MA.

 

Professional Outreach/Project Areas

 

  • Facilitator of “What’s the Evidence? Constructing Explanations in the K-5 Classrooms” – a project that brought Carla Zembal-Saul and team to Vermont for an intense day of professional learning , followed by teachers practicing the new learning in classrooms or other venues as well as online collaboration  to be followed by a follow up day of learning.
  • Planning & presenting a series of K-5 NSTA NGSS web seminars in collaboration with Carla Zembal-Saul, Mary Starr and Ted Willard.
  • Facilitator of K-5 Science Professional Learning Team-Plan and deliver professional learning for Vermont educators
  • Collaborating with Achieve, writers of NGSS to create model content frameworks for grade 4 ad 5.
  • Working to implement the Common Core in Mathematics and English Language Arts. (integrate and/or use the CC to leverage instructional time for science. ( current )
  • As a Presidential winner in science was asked to teach a lesson in science to preschool children at the University of West Alabama. ( January 2011 )
  • Member NSTA Outstanding Science Trade books Committee 2011-2014
  • Vermont Professional Development Science Network Leader, 2004 –present.

·         Field testing Math materials for Laura Candler, NBCT, a 4th grade teacher and author from North Carolina.

  • NSTA District Director ME, NH & VT 2006-2009.
  • NSTA Preschool/ Elementary Committee, 2006 – 2009.
  • Annual Presenter at National Science Teachers Association Convention.
  • Board member-former president of Vermont Science Teachers Association.
  • Member Vermont Leaders in Science Teaching (VTLIST).
  • Science Assessment Content Committee 2001-2002.
  • Grade level Expectations Committees.
  • Math Portfolio Network Meetings.
  • Math/Writing Summer Portfolio Camps.
  • VISMT Trainer/Consultant for Science, Technology & Children /Insights.

 

 

Awards, Honors & Achievement

 

 

·         Elementary Teacher of the Year Vermont Academy of Science and Engineering, 2007.

  • Exemplary Elementary Science Teacher Award from the Council of Elementary Science International, 2004.
  • Vermont Elementary Presidential Science Award, 2000.
  • National Board Certified Teacher-Middle Childhood Generalist, 1999.
  • Featured in an article in Middle Ground (NMSA magazine).
  • State finalist Vermont Presidential Science Award, 1999.
  • Toyota Tapestry Grant, 1998.
  • School to Work Grant to supplement Tapestry grant.
  • 1998 CCSU Teacher of the Year.
  • Featured in Vermont’s ABC’s of Education Documentary “Teacher Are Learners, Too “Broadcast in the Fall of 1995.

 

 

Professional Organizations

 

  • National Science Teachers’ Association
  • National Science Education Leadership Association
  • Vermont Science Teacher’s’ Association
  • Society of Elementary Presidential Awardees
  • Council of Elementary Science International

 

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