Aimee Karagiannis

Highly qualified Science Teacher with 26 years of experience teaching high school Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Special Education. Generates student enthusiasm for learning through individual connections and motivators. Empowers students through interactive learning, offering fun and educational lessons and exciting science demonstrations.

• Taught biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, AP Bio, AP Environmental Science
• Modified curriculum as new high stakes assessments and NGSS standards adopted
• Implemented claim evidence reasoning writing, Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning, talk to text strategies, gallery walks into units
• Created new units with project based learning activities for updated AP Environmental Science course through the Buck Institute in California
• Partnered with the math department for Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry to align the math and science topics and skills to help student achievement
• Worked with the English department for revisions of science fair symposium papers

• Science department chair, Interviewed new hires, student teachers, long term subs, Managed spending and allocation of department budget, Led weekly department meetings, Mediated personnel issues between department members, Created yearly science department schedule, Mentored new teachers as well as student teachers, Chaperoned students to Europe, Attended weekly course team meetings for biology, chemistry, and physics, Brought in claim, evidence, reasoning strategies into science to support targeted instructional area
• Instructional leadership team member, Communicated between science and other departments within the building, Helped build mission and vision for the school's curriculum direction, Facilitated staff meetings regarding targeted instructional area, Participated in a book study, Created student questionnaire for data analysis on targeted instructional area

• Science fair, 2004-2019, Organized community member judges for school science fair, Greeted and socialized with the community judges throughout the science fair
• DePaul University, 2004-2006, Helped design an Environmental Science curriculum to help teachers receive a specific endorsement
• George Lucas Educational Foundation along with Buck Institute for Education, 2014-2018, Attended quarterly meetings to learn about and share changes across Chicago Public Schools regarding how to implement project based learning in the AP courses, Created project based learning activities for AP Environmental Science course, Mentored new teachers coming into the program by year two, Provided feedback on the new AP Bio project based learning activities, Sought out by BSCS in conjunction with BIE for more feedback on modifications on PBL, Shared consistently with other teachers nationally
• Northwestern University, 2014-2016, Worked and mentored two PhD candidates to incorporate their research into the science classroom
• IIT / Exelon, 2015-2019, Facilitated and ran the summer energy academy, Interviewed and selected students for the academy, Co-facilitated the parent informational meeting and scholarship presentation, Chaperoned students to nuclear power plants, solar city, natural gas plant visitation, ComED, Exelon headquarters, Habitat for Humanity, Museum of Science and Industry, Performed energy audits with students, Created a design energy efficient home project based on a building site tour
• Mayor's office, 2016-2018, Designed and oversaw the building of new science labs for the school through a grant

• Understanding by design
• Advanced Placement for Biology and Environmental Science courses
• Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (group roles, facilitation)
• Restorative justice
• Targeted Instructional Area with Powerful Practice
• Reading Apprenticeship (literacy strategies like talking to text, think aloud, KWL)

• Biology
• Chemistry
• General Science