Colette Mcdonald Email and Phone Number

Virtually co-taught 51 first grade students in a 100% remote learning environment. Prepared remote learning materials for students to access synchronously and asynchronously. Developed ELA lessons based on the Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) curriculum. Led small group work sessions for struggling students. Maintained a high level of student discipline and classroom management. Worked closely with parents/guardians to optimize the remote learning experience.

Facilitated interactions with children and adult visitors of the museum to deepen their learning experiences during exhibit play and daily programs. Promoted an environment of inclusion for all visitors. Assisted with implementation of lesson plans that meet NYS and Next Generation Curriculum for visiting school groups.

Executed environmental permitting, compliance, and due diligence project tasks, including Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs), Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs), Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plans (SPCCs), and Spill Response Plans (SPRs) for a variety of public and private clients.Performed green infrastructure program analyses on various comparable organizations and municipalities that may serve as a model for the City of Buffalo Sewer Authority Raincheck 2.0 stormwater management project.

Colette performed technical duties for the zoning staff of the land use services department of the over-arching Norfolk City Planning and Community Development Department. Duties included: Developing, updating, and distributing monthly planning commission agendas to fellow staff, city departments, civic leagues/community leaders, city council representatives, the public, etc. Drafting staff reports, PowerPoint presentations, and administrative materials for city planners prior to City Planning Commission hearings.Responding to requests for zoning compliance letters and requests for ownership review of properties around Norfolk. Preparing presentation material for planning department heads prior to council hearings.

As an Americorp representative in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife New York Field Office, Colette performed outreach activities such as managing the office Facebook page and publishing material that was reflective of the projects being conducted by field biologists. Published material included:- GoPro video of silt extraction from native Lake Sturgeon on the St. Lawrence River as part of a conservation effort that was partnered with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Genoa National Fish Hatchery and Akwesasne Cultural Restoration Program of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe.- Photos from an educational fish collection presentation performed for local fifth grade students who then measured and identified the various collected fish.- Informational brochure reflecting office departments and ongoing projects with links to social media and contact information. Colette also served as a USFWS representative for the "Hands on Nature Anarchy Zone" at the Ithaca Children's Garden sponsored by the USFWS New York Field Office in Ithaca, NY. She organized scheduled nature-oriented presentations from local performers for children ages 2-12.

Colette provided technical writing and comprehension assistance in the form of copy editing to peer undergraduate students at SUNY ESF.

The semester long internship required 8 hours a week of tutoring SUNY-ESF undergrads on writing assignments, completion of a semester long project, conducting writing workshop presentations, and weekly submissions of annotations taken from a variety of works pertaining to tutoring and writing styles and techniques.

Colette co-managed the Conservationist Magazine Facebook page, interacted with subscribers requesting plant/animal identification, edited submitted articles prior to publishing, and elicited contributors to the magazine.

Colette conducted research on formaldehyde poisoning from Brazilian Keratin chemical hair treatment products and the carcinogenic properties of tattoo ink for bureau scientists and attorneys who were interested in initiating a case against the manufacturers of these products on behalf of New York State.The internship sharpened her abilities to perform research, gather relevant product samples and determine their liability, as well as effectively communicate amongst scientists and attorneys in order to bridge the gap between the two professions.

Colette co-led Language Arts and Mathematics summer school lessons for kindergarten-second grade students at Dr. King Elementary School in Syracuse, NY.In addition, she planned and led environmental education lessons during the afternoon summer school session including food chain activities, predator-prey scenarios, water cycle bracelets and daily interactions with their school garden introducing the concept of urban agriculture and food sustainability.