Caterine Heaton

To motivate and inspire young students to gain an appreciation, respect, and love for education. I strive to become a mentor and confidant for all youth. Focused on building connections with students to strengthen engagement and help students reach full potential. Knowledgeable about planning projects to diversify instruction, immerse students in subject material, and promote continuous skill-building.

5th Grade Teacher: Decherd Elementary, Decherd, TN, 2018- current

 Created and implemented comprehensive lesson plans for Science and Social Studies curriculum. Coordinated and facilitated academic events such as the Science Fair, INNOV8 Day, and the Wax Museum. Engaged in weekly Professional Learning Community (PLC) meetings to collaborate with colleagues and enhance instructional strategies. Actively participated in various community outreach initiatives. Regularly attended extracurricular academic conferences to stay abreast of emerging trends and best practices in education.

• Dr. Brad Windley, Veterinarian and Education Adviser, (931) 247-5166, bradwindley@cafes.net
• Dianne Darlington, TCS Technology Director, (931) 454-2652, (931) 247-4976, Leslisherrill@gmail.com
• Lesli Sherrill, Teacher at Westwood Elem. 21 yrs. experience, (931) 808-4449, Leslisherrill@gmail.com
• Stephanie Richards, TTU Professor, (931) 434-2682, srichards@tntech.edu
• Megan Geer, Principal, (931) 205-7212, megan.geer@fcstn.net
• Chris Hawkersmith, Former Principal, (931) 273-7290, chris.hawkersmith@fcstn.net

• Member of TSIN Rural STEM Collaborative 2020-2021
• Decherd Elementary Teacher of the Year 2021-2022
• Member of TSIN STEM Workforce Fellowship 2022-2023
• STE(A)M CI 2022-current: As the STEM Curriculum Integration (CI) lead at my school, my primary responsibilities entail ensuring our institution maintains its STEM designation, fostering student engagement through Project-Based Learning (PBL) methodologies, cultivating relationships with community partners, and facilitating the incorporation of real-life scenarios into the curriculum.

Endorsements

• 173 Computer Science K-12
• 499 Elementary K-6