BRIAN BYRWA
Austin,TX
Summary
Seeking a position in curriculum and assessment development that capitalizes on my extensive experience managing STAAR Science test development.
Skilled Assessment Specialist with background in both educational and corporate settings. Possess strong knowledge of various assessment types, including formative, summative, diagnostic, and benchmark assessments. Strengths include ability to develop comprehensive assessment tools tailored to specific objectives, as well as analyzing data for informed decision-making. In previous roles, have contributed to improved learning outcomes and business strategies through insightful evaluation measures.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
Work History
Science Education Specialist IV
Texas Education Agency
Austin, TX
12.2012 - 08.2025
- STAAR Biology and STAAR MS, ES Science Assessment Development
- STAAR Science Assessment Item Development, including STAAR Biology EOC, MS, and ES titles
- Manage multiple vendors via project management principles
- Manage the review and annual development of 1300 items
- Test construction and psychometric data review of new item development
- User Acceptance Technology QA
- Item review committee facilitation.
- Anchorscoring scoring guidance committee facilitation
- Collaborated with educators to implement state educational standards and best practices.
- Analyzed educational data to identify trends and inform policy recommendations.
- Coordinated workshops and seminars to enhance professional development opportunities.
- Evaluated educational programs for effectiveness and alignment with state guidelines.
- Assisted in the development of statewide assessments and evaluation tools.
- Engaged with community stakeholders to promote educational initiatives and resources.
- Collaborated with school administrators, counselors, and other professionals to ensure best practices were being followed.
Secondary Science Instructor
Austin Independent School District
08.2006 - 12.2012
- Developing and teaching curriculum for Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Sheltered Instruction for Chemistry and Physics and Earth Space Science.
- Campus Coordinator for the Academic Student Advisory Program: Developed peer reviewed lessons to support social, emotional, and academic needs of the student body.
- Support teachers implementing advisory lessons through campus wide professional development and weekly email communication of lessons.
- Disciplinary Literacy Coach: Model science lessons using inquiry based framework.
- Conduct peer coaching sessions using teacher generated focus points.
- Implementing PD related to inquiry based learning framework.
- Professional Learning Community Support: Creation of Standards Based Grading curriculum for Chemistry.
- Generated standards matched common assessments for same.
- Mentoring: Mentor teacher for the UTeach program, Mentor teacher for the Texas State Teacher Educator program.
High School Science Instructor
Elgin Independent School District
08.2000 - 06.2006
- Department Chair: Developed curriculum for science instruction.
- Budgeting and purchasing for science department needs.
- Mentoring of new teachers.
- Instruction of Chemistry, Biology and A.P Biology.
- Member Site-Based decision making committee.
Aquatic Researcher
United States Army Corps of Engineers
08.1999 - 03.2000
- Collected water quality data with remote sensing devices.
- Cultivated and transplanted aquatic and semi-aquatic plants.
- Implemented federally funded aquatic restoration research projects.
Water Research Field
University of North Texas Institute of Applied Sciences
08.1992 - 12.1996
- Collected, archived and identified macroinvertebrates larvae.
- GLP Research Facilitation under FIFRA for EPA registration label applicants.
Education
Masters of Arts - Science Education
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX08.2011
Texas Teaching Certificate - Composite Science/Biology
The University of North Texas
Denton, Texas05.2000
Bachelor of Science - Biology, Chemistry minor
The University of North Texas
Denton, Texas12.1996
Skills
- Assessment development
- Curriculum development
- Data analysis
- Quality assurance
- Professional development
- Team leadership
- Peer mentoring
- Collaboration skills
- Stakeholder engagement
- Assessment strategies
- Problem solving
- Science education
- Education policy
- Secondary education
- Vendor relations
- Program management
- Workshop facilitation
- Testing procedures
- Lesson planning
- Curriculum planning
- Instructional technology
- Microsoft office
- Recruitment strategies
- Positive reinforcement
- Staff training
- Educational leadership
- Learning assessment
- Learning management system proficiency
- Special education
- Teacher training
- Coaching techniques
- Effective communication
- Project management
- Educational technology
Timeline
Science Education Specialist IV
Texas Education Agency
12.2012 - 08.2025
Secondary Science Instructor
Austin Independent School District
08.2006 - 12.2012
High School Science Instructor
Elgin Independent School District
08.2000 - 06.2006
Aquatic Researcher
United States Army Corps of Engineers
08.1999 - 03.2000
Water Research Field
University of North Texas Institute of Applied Sciences
08.1992 - 12.1996
Masters of Arts - Science Education
The University of Texas at Austin
Texas Teaching Certificate - Composite Science/Biology
The University of North Texas
Bachelor of Science - Biology, Chemistry minor
The University of North Texas
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