Member Spotlight | Tiffany's Teaching Tip |
Past Member Spotlights
Julie Moore is an award-winning elementary school science teacher with over 15 years of teaching experience and a deep-seeded passion for student success in and out of the classroom. The 2017 Kentucky Science Teacher Association’s Elementary Science Teacher of the Year, Moore served on state and district development teams for curriculum maps, skills rubrics and assessments and has authored district-wide science curriculum adopted in Kentucky. She has presented her work at various conferences and workshops, including Literacy Research Association, Kentucky Science Teacher Association, Bluegrass Writing Project, and Kentucky Reading Project. Moore combines her understanding of science concepts with other disciplines and subjects. Her students learn to connect classroom learning, develop critical thinking skills and apply classroom learning to the reality of their lives and communities. Perhaps her most unique skill is illustrating how seemingly disconnected subjects like science and the arts are, in fact, intertwined. This helps her shine in her current role as a 4th-6th grade science teacher at the School for the Creative and Performing Arts of the Bluegrass (SCAPA). She serves as both the Elementary Team Leader and Elementary Science Representative at SCAPA. A graduate of Roanoke College (BS – Mathematics), Midway College (BA – Elementary Education) and the University of Kentucky (MA – Curriculum and Instruction), Moore has worked in a variety of classroom settings, kindergarten through sixth grade. She also worked as a Research Assistant and a University Student Teacher Supervisor at University of Kentucky. She is certified in Kentucky in Elementary Education and Literacy for K-12 and has a Literacy Specialist Endorsement from the University of Kentucky’s Curriculum and Instruction Program. Moore is also a Subject Matter Expert for Lego Education and made a significant contribution in the development of the LEGO Education Professional Development digital experience.   Lin Xiang is an assistant professor of Science Education in the Department of STEM Education at the University of Kentucky. Her expertise lies in model-based science education, agent-based computer modeling, and science teacher education. Over the past 10 years, Lin has developed an extensive collection of agent-based computer models for K-16 students to apply science practices and crosscutting concepts to explore core science ideas. One of her computer modeling curricula has been published in Science Scope. At the University of Kentucky, she teaches Elementary, Middle, and Secondary Science Methods; STEM Education Methods.
 Jamaal Stiles currently teaches STEM courses at Bloomfield Middle School (Nelson County). He has previously taught science and math courses in the Marion County Public School system. Mr. Stiles' research interests lie in the areas of biomedical science, ecology, environmental science, and technology. He is a Google Level 1 and 2 Certified and Nearpod Certified Educator. He currently serves on the KSTA Board of Directors as the Secretary/Treasurer.
 Rico Tyler is a transitional retiree and master teacher at Western Ky University. He is a 1994 Presidential Awardee for Excellence in Science Teaching and the 2018 National UTeach Outstanding Master Teacher. He has been an astronomy instructor for the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program since 1984 and is currently the co-director of the National STEM Scholar program.Rico's Teaching Tips |