PEOPLE
Ruth Catchen, M. Music, MA, received her Bachelor of Music degree from American University and her Master of Music degree from The Catholic University of America in Vocal Performance. She has performed with many distinguished opera companies, conductors and orchestras in the United States. Later in her career, she turned her direction to music education and founded a youth chorale with the Naples (FL) Philharmonic Orchestra. She received a second master’s degree in 2007 from the University of Colorado in Curriculum and Instruction/Leadership. Since then, she has worked in developing arts integrated curriculum programs for various schools and school districts and does professional development to support teachers in developing and implementing STEM/STEAM curriculum. She serves as co-chair for the Girls’ STEM Experience in Southern Colorado and also served on the advisory committee to create STEM standards for the Colorado Department of Education. She blogs at http://ruthcatchen.wordpress.com/. Ms. Catchen will serve as Project Director and Curriculum Developer.
Carolyn DeCristofano,M.Ed.,is a curriculum and instruction specialist and President of Blue Heron STEM education. For over twenty years, she has focused on creating STEM and multi-disciplinary experiences for various learners. Her projects have included curriculum, exhibit, and program development and educational research; and she has initiated and implemented collaborative student and teacher programs linking STEM fields to each other, as well as to English/Language Arts, the arts, and social studies. This work has brought her into partnerships with school districts and educational institutions, such as the Museum of Science (Boston), Harvard’s Project Zero, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, TERC, and WGBH, Boston. The former Professional Development Director for the Engineering is Elementary (EiE) project, she served on the development team for EiE, and as a Blue Heron consultant, still works with the program. Also as part of Blue Heron, she works on the Engaging Youth through Engineering team, playing an editorial and developer role for its middle school STEM curriculum modules. In addition, Carolyn is the author of nonfiction books for children, including the acclaimed A Black Hole is NOT a Hole (Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc., 2012). Ms. DeCristofano will serve as a Curriculum Developer.
Anne Jolly, MA, is a STEM education consultant and President of PLTWorks LLC. She writes STEM curriculum for Engaging Youth through Engineering (EYE), trains teachers to implement the curriculum, and authors numerous articles on teaching STEM. Anne taught 8th grade science for 16 years and is a former Alabama State Teacher of the Year. She served on the Glenn Commission and served a 3-year appointment to the Committee on Science Education K-12 of the National Academy of Sciences. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Education Coalition. Anne authors books and numerous articles, and has a STEM blog at MiddleWeb. Her most recent book: Team to Teach, is available from Learning Forward. She works with the Center for Teaching Quality (CTQ) as a virtual community organizer and is a member of the CTQ Thought Leaders Circle. Ms. Jolly will serve as a Curriculum Developer.
Susan Pruet, PhD., has been actively involved in STEM education – as a teacher, teacher educator and director of reform initiatives -for over 30 years. Since 1998 she has directed two National Science Foundation funded STEM curriculum development and reform initiatives for the Mobile Area Education Foundation (MAEF), including Engaging Youth through Engineering (EYE), a K-12 workforce development initiative in Mobile, Alabama. Susan has served on a number of education boards and committees including vice chair of the Board of Directors of the Alabama Mathematics, Science, T echnology, and Engineering Coalition (AMSTEC), Executive Board Member of the American Society of Engineering Educators (ASEE) K-12 Division, and chair of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Instructional Issues Advisory Committee. She received her undergraduate degree in mathematics from Birmingham-Southern College, her master’s degree in secondary education from the University of Alabama in Birmingham, and her doctorate from Auburn University in mathematics education. Currently Susan is an independent consultant as President of STEMWorks, LLC. Dr. Pruet will serve as Research/Evaluation Lead and a Curriculum Developer.
Ruth Catchen, M. Music, MA, received her Bachelor of Music degree from American University and her Master of Music degree from The Catholic University of America in Vocal Performance. She has performed with many distinguished opera companies, conductors and orchestras in the United States. Later in her career, she turned her direction to music education and founded a youth chorale with the Naples (FL) Philharmonic Orchestra. She received a second master’s degree in 2007 from the University of Colorado in Curriculum and Instruction/Leadership. Since then, she has worked in developing arts integrated curriculum programs for various schools and school districts and does professional development to support teachers in developing and implementing STEM/STEAM curriculum. She serves as co-chair for the Girls’ STEM Experience in Southern Colorado and also served on the advisory committee to create STEM standards for the Colorado Department of Education. She blogs at http://ruthcatchen.wordpress.com/. Ms. Catchen will serve as Project Director and Curriculum Developer.
Carolyn DeCristofano,M.Ed.,is a curriculum and instruction specialist and President of Blue Heron STEM education. For over twenty years, she has focused on creating STEM and multi-disciplinary experiences for various learners. Her projects have included curriculum, exhibit, and program development and educational research; and she has initiated and implemented collaborative student and teacher programs linking STEM fields to each other, as well as to English/Language Arts, the arts, and social studies. This work has brought her into partnerships with school districts and educational institutions, such as the Museum of Science (Boston), Harvard’s Project Zero, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, TERC, and WGBH, Boston. The former Professional Development Director for the Engineering is Elementary (EiE) project, she served on the development team for EiE, and as a Blue Heron consultant, still works with the program. Also as part of Blue Heron, she works on the Engaging Youth through Engineering team, playing an editorial and developer role for its middle school STEM curriculum modules. In addition, Carolyn is the author of nonfiction books for children, including the acclaimed A Black Hole is NOT a Hole (Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc., 2012). Ms. DeCristofano will serve as a Curriculum Developer.
Anne Jolly, MA, is a STEM education consultant and President of PLTWorks LLC. She writes STEM curriculum for Engaging Youth through Engineering (EYE), trains teachers to implement the curriculum, and authors numerous articles on teaching STEM. Anne taught 8th grade science for 16 years and is a former Alabama State Teacher of the Year. She served on the Glenn Commission and served a 3-year appointment to the Committee on Science Education K-12 of the National Academy of Sciences. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Education Coalition. Anne authors books and numerous articles, and has a STEM blog at MiddleWeb. Her most recent book: Team to Teach, is available from Learning Forward. She works with the Center for Teaching Quality (CTQ) as a virtual community organizer and is a member of the CTQ Thought Leaders Circle. Ms. Jolly will serve as a Curriculum Developer.
Susan Pruet, PhD., has been actively involved in STEM education – as a teacher, teacher educator and director of reform initiatives -for over 30 years. Since 1998 she has directed two National Science Foundation funded STEM curriculum development and reform initiatives for the Mobile Area Education Foundation (MAEF), including Engaging Youth through Engineering (EYE), a K-12 workforce development initiative in Mobile, Alabama. Susan has served on a number of education boards and committees including vice chair of the Board of Directors of the Alabama Mathematics, Science, T echnology, and Engineering Coalition (AMSTEC), Executive Board Member of the American Society of Engineering Educators (ASEE) K-12 Division, and chair of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Instructional Issues Advisory Committee. She received her undergraduate degree in mathematics from Birmingham-Southern College, her master’s degree in secondary education from the University of Alabama in Birmingham, and her doctorate from Auburn University in mathematics education. Currently Susan is an independent consultant as President of STEMWorks, LLC. Dr. Pruet will serve as Research/Evaluation Lead and a Curriculum Developer.