ZION NATL’ PARK FOREVER PROJECT

A board member since 2011, this official non-profit partner of Zion National Park has quadrupled in size and scope.  In the last couple of years while I have serving on the Executive Committee as Vice Chair and now Chair, our annual contribution to the parks has at least 2 million dollars.  In 2019-2020 this amount nearly double.  The highlight in the past couple years has been the rebranding of the Zion Natural History Association to its current name.  We held a benefit concert in 2019 with the Utah Symphony and Sting, created a new park film to be shown to the 4.7 million visitors a year, and raised the needed 8 million dollars to build new visitor centers in Cedar Breaks National Monument and on the east entrance of Zion National Park.  It is truly an exciting time to be working with the Forever Project.

GET OUTSIDE UTAH

Get Outside is a nonprofit organization designed to promote a culture of outdoor recreation and healthy lifestyle in southern Utah. As an entity, our primary vision is for both youth and adults to engage in outdoor recreation in order to improve physical and mental health. We challenge students to move out of their comfort zones and challenge their perceived abilities while creating opportunities to serve in their communities.  This partnership was started with Matt and Julie Mizukawa (Founders), Marshall Topham (Washington County School District), Annalee Bundy (Dixie State University), and myself to address the need to get young kids outside.  In 2018 we held numerous outdoor recreational activities servicing approximately 600 high school age students.  We now have Get Outside clubs in all high schools in both Iron and Washington County and have raised over $20,000 in donations from local businesses to support even more activities in 2020.

FACILITATOR for THE STEM ELEMENTARY ENDORSEMENT

This multi-year grant aims to provide science content instruction as well as in-depth training in the nature of science to elementary school teachers. Currently, we provide professional development to over one hundred teachers in these school districts.  

FACILITATOR for UTAH SCIENCE TEACHER ASSOCIATION BIOLOGY ENDORSEMENT

My work as President of the UtSTA over the past 4 years saw the handing over of all external science endorsement courses from the Utah State Board of Education to the Utah Science Teachers Association.  We secured a $500,000 grant from the Utah STEM Action Center in 2018 to provide these courses to highs school teachers needing science endorsements.  I coordinate the teaching of all of the biology courses every summer.

UTAH STATE OFFICE of EDUCATION SCIENCE LEADERSHIP TEAM

Building off my previous work, I was again selected by the Utah State Board of Education to be the Co-chair of the K-2 Grade team tasked with reviewing and rewriting the Utah Science Core Curriculum to match the alignment we created in grades 6-8 to the Next Generation Science Standards.  The K-2 standards were then edited and adjusted to flow with the 3-5 grade team and the 9-12 grade teams.  Once the chairs completed this task the 90-day state-wide review period began and we traveled through the state holding public fora to gather feedback.  With the feedback further adjustments were made and a final draft was presented to the Utah State Board of Education for adoption.  It was accepted and will be implemented fall of 2020.