Over the last 12 years, I have had the opportunity to teach 7th grade Life Science and 8th grade Earth Science, as well as a high school Environmental Science course. In doing so, I was able to create standards-based, interactive and problem-based lesson plans to increase student participation, understanding, and achievement. By designing lesson plans focused on MN state standards, we were able to consistently increase our Science MCA scores. I have also been active in establishing STEAM programming, collaborative and cross-curricular units, as well as real-world problem-based learning curriculum. My colleague and I are recipients of the MASSP Star of Innovation Award for Collaborative STEAM teaching. I have been a lead teacher for our district’s IXL and Schoology programs. I was also selected as Lake Park Audubon’s 2019 Teacher of the Year. That nomination led me to become a current top ten finalist for Minnesota’s Teacher of the Year Program.