Teaching
Certification: Lifetime Secondary Composite Science, 1996

Education: 1989, Bachelor of Science
 Comprehensive Major in Agronomy
 Northwest Missouri State University
 Maryville, Missouri 64468
 Cum Laude, GPA 3.59

Professional
Experience: (July, 2007 to present) Independent Science Assessment Consultant,
(Self-employed)

Science Assessment Consultant: Write and review items for a variety of state,
local, and national testing programs. Develop close working relationship with
specialists responsible for test development to expectations for quality items.
Excellent acceptance rates and outstanding feedback from assessment specialists
and project supervisors.

(June, 2006   “ July, 2007) Assessment Specialist II, Educational Testing
Service, 10999 IH-10 West Suite 400, San Antonio, Texas 78230.

CAPA Science Content Lead: Science assessment team leader for the California
Alternative Performance Assessment (CAPA), grade levels K-12, 5, 8, and 10.
Developed items, revised blueprints, made development plans, and coordinated with
California Department of Education team to produce science assessments.

CMA Science Content Lead: Science assessment team leader for the grade 5
California Modified Assessment (CMA). Developed items, developed standards and
blueprints, made development plans, produced pilot test, and coordinated with
California Department of Education team to produce pilot test for fall 2006 and
grade 5 assessment for 2007/2008 administration. Received praise from client for
item quality and effectiveness in facilitating state educator review committee
meetings.

TAKS Science Content Team Member: Science assessment team member for grade 5
Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). Contracted writers, reviewed and
revised items, coordinated with ETS team to produce grade 5 TAKS items for the
2007/2008 administration. Received recognition from company leadership on item
quality and organizational skill.

Item Writer Trainer: Presented workshop entitled    Creativity and Novelty in
Item Writing    at ETS item writer training in January, 2007. Developed and
presented two-day CAPA item writer training session in June 2007. Received
positive feedback from trainees and peers on helpfulness of presentations.

(June, 2000   “ June, 2006) Independent Science Assessment Consultant,
(Self-employed)

Science Assessment Item Writer: Wrote science items for a variety of assessments
for Harcourt Educational Measurement, Riverside Publishing, Pearson Educational
Measurement, Educational Testing Service, and independent subcontractors.
Excelled in writing large volumes of high-quality items to specific
standards/objectives at grade levels 2 through 12.

Science Assessment Consultant: Authored grade 10 science exit examination for a
school district in Nebraska, 2004; authored TAKS Grade 8 Science Study Guide
through a contract with Pearson Educational Measurement 2006; Initiated standards
and item development for Texas Biology I End of Course Examination through
contract with Pearson Educational Measurement, 2007. Received offer for an
extended contract to continue consultation on new projects through 2007/2008. 

(November, 1999   “ June, 2000) Item Scorer/Science Content Assistant
(temporary), Harcourt Educational Measurement, 19500 Bulverde Road, San Antonio,
Texas 78259.

Science Content Assistant: Coded, reviewed, revised, and wrote science items as
requested for the science assessment division. Given additional responsibility to
review items due to proficiency in editing/revising items. Contracted to write
test items independently for several projects due to excellent item writing
ability.

Test Item Scorer: Scored language arts, math, and science items for large-scale
state assessments. Received consistently high ratings for scoring accuracy and
rate.

(August, 1996   “ November, 1999) Science Teacher, Northside Alternative High
School, Northside Independent School District, San Antonio, Texas 78240.

Taught grades 9   “ 12 in alternative school setting. Courses taught included
Biology I, IPC, Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology, Environmental Science, and
Health. Utilized creative approaches to cross-curricular instruction, student
assessment, and laboratory activities. Maintained continuing professional
development for gifted and talented instruction.

(August, 1995  “ August, 1996) Science Teacher (internship through Region 20
TOPP alternative certification program), Gus Garcia Junior High School, Edgewood
Independent School District, San Antonio, Texas, 78228.

Taught grade 7 Science. Implemented motivational behavioral program for science
students. Coordinated cross-curricular program with reading and math teachers on
team. Received training in ESL and crisis prevention/intervention.

(August, 1991   “ June, 1995) Substitute Teacher, Northside Independent School
District, San Antonio, Texas 78228.

Substitute taught 170+ days per year primarily at John Marshall High School 1991
  “ 1994 and Oliver Wendell Holmes High School 1994   “ 1995. Received excellent
feedback on ability to adapt to many diverse settings, provide quality
instruction in extended teacher absences, and deal with students, staff, and
parents positively and effectively. 

Other 
Experience/
Background: Early life in suburban San Antonio, Texas with frequent agricultural
experiences in Gonzales County, Texas. Electronic technician in USAF 1980  “1984
with honorable discharge. Food service industry and agriculture experience in
rural Missouri during/after college. 

References: Excellent references in both the assessment industry and the
teaching community are available upon request.