Leanna Aker, Ph.D. Email & Phone Number

Kirkland, Wa, Us

Kirkland, Wa, Us

Kirkland, Wa, Us

Place approximately 60 candidates per year across multiple districts with different requirements.Navigate multiple stakeholders to ensure candidates have the best placement process possible.

Supervisory and Evaluation Responsibilities:-Hire, train, mentor, and evaluate instructors (~60) and field supervisors (~30). Curricular Responsibilities:-Refine, write, and advocate for curricular and programatic changes and enhancements across undergraduate, graduate, and certificate-only programs.Teacher Candidate Support:-Create test preparation materials and training programs for tests (WEST-B, WEST-E, NES) across programs with an explicit focus to remove obstacles to enrollment and ensure success of teacher candidates from underrepresented populations.-Lead admission of teacher candidates to endorsement, alternative routes, and degreed teacher preparation programs at the Tacoma Campus. Lead collaborative effort to refine interview procedure.-Support and facilitate productive working relationships among and between districts, mentors, field supervisors, and teacher candidates.-Teach courses for BA, MIT, Alternative Routes, and endorsement teacher candidates, including seminars, STEM, classroom management, assessment, and social justice/equity/diversity. Consistently score over a 4/5 on end of course evaluations.-Supervise and evaluate teacher candidates in their internships and student teaching placements.-Support student learning and engagement through coaching, teaching, and advising.University Service:-Serve on numerous university-wide committees: Curriculum Council, Standards Committees, Exemplary Course Design and Conference Planning.

Tacoma, Wa

Supervisory and Evaluation Responsibilities:-Hire, train, mentor, and evaluate instructors (~60) and field supervisors (~30). Lead quarterly trainings to educate both groups about edTPA certification requirements. Curricular Responsibilities:-Refine, write, and advocate for curricular and programatic changes and enhancements across undergraduate, graduate, and certificate-only programs.-Lead edTPA preparation through instructor professional development, course design, and teaching.Teacher Candidate Support:-Create test preparation materials and training programs for tests (WEST-B, WEST-E, NES, and edTPA) across programs with an explicit focus to remove obstacles to enrollment and ensure success of teacher candidates from underrepresented populations.-Lead admission of teacher candidates to endorsement, alternative routes, and degreed teacher preparation programs at the Tacoma Campus. Lead collaborative effort to refine interview procedure.-Support and facilitate productive working relationships among and between districts, mentors, field supervisors, and teacher candidates.-Teach courses for BA, MIT, Alternative Routes, and endorsement teacher candidates, including seminars, STEM, classroom management, assessment, and social justice/equity/diversity. Consistently score over a 4/5 on end of course evaluations.-Supervise and evaluate teacher candidates in their internships and student teaching placements.-Support student learning and engagement through coaching, teaching, and advising.University Service:-Serve on numerous university-wide committees: Curriculum Council, Standards Committees, Exemplary Course Design and Conference Planning.

-Led workshops for teacher researchers through the STAR (Stem Teachers and Researchers) program at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo for a cohort of seven candidates in science research internships in Seattle that have interest in, or are currently involved in becoming science teachers.-Provide expertise in program evaluation and assessment of undergraduate science education through grant writing, assessment, and publication.-Design psychometric instruments to assess student and faculty outcomes resulting from authentic scientific inquiry in undergraduate coursework.-Conduct statistical analyses (exploratory factor analyses, confirmatory factor analyses) of moderately sized data sets (N= 200-400).-Co-author publications for peer-reviewed journals.

-Establish a sustainable mentoring program for first year teachers; collaboratively design and provide training for mentors; coach new teachers.-Perform instructional rounds to identify school-wide instructional focus points.

Lakewood, Wa

-Mentor teachers in their first year in the profession.-Create 3-dimensional, NGSS-aligned, K-12 science assessment materials.-Refine and create K-12 curriculum to align to NGSS standards.-Collaborate with K-12 teachers to implement district science curricula and engage in rigorous science pedagogy.-Design and lead district-wide K-12 professional development concerning science instruction and assessment.-Support district science committee and district STEM fair committee.-Lead annual curriculum review process.-Organize and implement STEM extended day program for 10 elementary schools.-Train judges for the annual, district-wide STEM fair.

Seattle, Wa

-Taught teacher preparatory coursework for teacher candidates in the MTMS and BA programs.-Contributed to professional development for elementary and secondary teachers in the teaching of energy.-Performed administrative tasks for the CKT-E (Content Knowledge for Teaching Energy) and FOE (Focus on Energy) grants.-Participated in intellectual grant tasks including qualitative video analyses, collaborative reading groups,inter-rater reliability tasks, and comprehensive literature reviews.-Performed interviews (pre- and post-instruction) with grant participant physics teachers.-Installed and trouble-shot camera technology for qualitative data analysis in teachers' classrooms.-Edited book chapters for grammar and APA conformity.

Fife School District

-Taught middle school/junior high physical science, honors physical science, web design, and digital art. -Served as a district level coach focusing on the creation of lessons that utilize student voice to increase engagement.-Lead staff development opportunities about improving professional practice and technology integration. -Wrote numerous grants to secure science and technology equipment. -Voted teacher of the year by my colleagues in 2013.

Federal Way, Wa

-Taught 8th grade general science, 9th grade biology, and environmental science-Served as a union representative-Served as school webmaster and database manager.-Established relationships with local environmental organizations to have students serve as stewards.

Renton, Wa

-Taught 7th grade life science and 9th grade physical science. -Served as the school webmaster-Lead technology staff development opportunities.

Palo Alto, Ca

-Taught 7th-8th grade life and general science, 8th grade math, and a bioethics elective-Designed a bioethics elective for middle school students-Served as union representative-Designed and led staff development in technology-Served as a building representative for district technology team-Served as school webmaster

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Education (Teacher Preparation)

-Dissertation: A Meta-Analysis of Middle School Science Engagement -Coursework in instructional theory, curriculum design, global trends.

M.S. Ed, K-8 Science Education

Took six paired courses which partnered rigorous content exploration with teaching pedagogy.

Certificate, Teaching

Certifications in: Science Biology Chemistry Middle Level Science

B.S., Biology, Zoology, Secondary Education

Activities and Societies: Phi Beta Kappa, Gamma Sigma Sigma Service Sorority, Summa Cum Laude graduation honors

B.S., Biology

Activities and Societies: Marching band, color guard, French club, science club, track