Engagers in Science

Mary has been teaching middle school science in International Schools (including Singapore American School and Shanghai American School) for 22 years. Before that she taught first and second year university chemistry labs for six years and she volunteered in Zimbabwe for three years where she taught A and O level chemistry (UK curriculum). Shawn is a middle school science and math teacher with 30 years of experience. She taught 27 years in Vermont public schools, and three years at an international school in Zurich, Switzerland. She also served as Associate Director of the Teacher Apprenticeship Program for Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont. And is a science faculty member at Champlain College.

As both of us are real world scientists turned teachers, we believe that learning about science comes from investigations and not from reading about it. If something can be learnt by doing an experiment then that will happen. Our students are scientists and they love the engaging activities that we create. We are passionate about our science teaching and love the NGSS standards and philosophy. We strongly believe in the integration of math and science.

Mary was involved with the Chemistry magic show at the University of Victoria, Canada and she performed this show a number of times including at the Seattle Science Center. She is an honorary member of the Manitoba Science Teacher association. She served as the science curriculum area leader for 5 years at Zurich International School. Mary has presented hands-on science workshops at many professional development sessions. Shawn earned the University of Vermont’s “Outstanding Teacher of the Year” award for her project based learning work, “A Vermont River Study”. She was a presenter for the National Science Foundation (NSF) for three years in a row at the NSTA (National Science Teachers’ Association) Convention and an invited guest presenter at the New England League of Middle Schools (NELMS). Shawn has earned “highly qualified” teacher status in the state of Vermont for secondary science education, and served as a Science Teacher Leader and Coach for 7 years.

Mary has a B.Sc. and a Ph.D. in Chemistry and has nine research papers published in different chemistry journals. Shawn has a B.A. in Zoology and a M.S. in Science Education.

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