Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Affiliations
Professional Activities And Presentations
Awards
Community Service
Professional Interests And Skills
Timeline

Jay Cecrle

Classroom Teacher – Science
Hastings,NE

Summary

Experienced professional educator with over 25 years of experience. Specialized in working with students in grades 7-12 and recognized as a go-to person for technology-related challenges. Strong technology skills to effectively address any issues. Extensive expertise in curriculum development, delivery, and innovation. Quick learner, continuously acquiring new skills to stay up-to-date in an ever-evolving educational landscape and provide students with the best education possible.

Overview

25
25
years of professional experience
2000
2000
years of post-secondary education
2
2
Certifications

Work History

Director

Central Nebraska Science and Engineering Fair
01.2019 - Current
  • Work as a volunteer director.
  • Oversee judge recruitment, fundraising, and event logistics for an ISEF-affiliated competition
  • Coordinate travel arrangements and activities on-site to Nebraska ISEF student finalists
  • Worked with the University of Nebraska at Kearney to secure event space and judges.
  • Communicated with middle and high school principals across Nebraska to invite them to our science research competition.
  • Match qualified judges to projects.
  • Communicate directly with area businesses to raise money to run the competition and award student cash award and scholarships.
  • Consistently securing over $17,000 per year that mostly goes to student awards.

Webmaster

Nebraska Junior Academy of Science
01.2017 - Current
  • Troubleshot issues with websites and fixed scripting and use issues.
  • Configured and purchased domains for websites.
  • Conceptualized, planned and executed original designs for wide range of website properties.
  • Ensured website security by implementing regular updates, backups, and monitoring for vulnerabilities.
  • Developed a registration and awards system implementing Google Drive to the website.

Adjunct Instructor

Central Community College
01.2009 - Current
  • Teach college-level dual credit biology course. I worked with Nate Allen, dean of skilled and technical sciences, to establish the course, a first of its kind in Hastings.
  • Teach college-level dual credit medical terminology courses.

Science Teacher

Adams Central Public Schools
01.2005 - Current
  • Develop and implement college-preparatory curricula in Biology, Honors Biology, Medical Terminology, Scientific Research, and Forensic Science
  • Utilize cutting-edge classroom technologies such as Schoology LMS, Google Classroom, and Google Enterprise for Education
  • Mentor 15-30 student research projects annually for competitive science fairs

Summer Science Teacher

Northwest Missouri State University
01.2005 - 01.2011
  • Designed and taught rigorous STEM-focused summer courses for first generation college-bound high school students
  • Worked with students from a variety of backgrounds from rural and urban areas in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri

Research Teacher

University of Nebraska at Kearney
01.2009 - 01.2010
  • Work on biomedical research through the NIH-funded INBRE program
  • Improved research skills and gained competency in DNA-relate research including gel electrophoresis, PCR, sequencing, and DNA analysis

Science Teacher

Giltner Public Schools
01.2000 - 01.2005
  • Delivered comprehensive science instruction in a rural school setting

Education

B.S. - Biology

University of Nebraska at Kearney

B.S. - Secondary Education

University of Nebraska at Kearney

M.S. - Biology

University of Nebraska at Kearney

7-12 Education Administration - undefined

University of Nebraska at Kearney

Skills

STEM education

Certification

Nebraska Standard Teaching Certificate

Affiliations

  • American Association for the Advancement of Science
  • American Junior Academy of Science
  • Central Nebraska Science and Engineering Fair (Chairman)
  • Nebraska Junior Academy of Science (Board Member)
  • Nebraska Educational Technology Association
  • National Science Teachers Association
  • Nebraska Association of Teachers of Science
  • Nebraska Coaches Association

Professional Activities And Presentations

  • Advanced Research Science Teaching (A.S.R.T.), 2023, Grant writer and workshop coordinator for a five day immersive conference provided at no cost to any Nebraska Science Teacher hosted at Adams Central High School.
  • ESU 9 Teaching and Learning Conference, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, Presenter
  • Nebraska Association of Teachers of Science (NATS) Conference, 2021, 2016, 2015, Presenter
  • Research Teachers Conference, Science for Society, 2020, 2021, Midwest Regional Captain and presenter
  • Nebraska Junior Academy of Science, 2020 - Present, Technology Director, special awards chairman, and judging coordinator
  • Science Fair Presentations at NATS Annual Meetings, 2019, 2020
  • Advisor/Chaperone for Student Research Finalists (Regeneron ISEF: Phoenix, AZ, Los Angeles, CA, Dallas, TX)
  • Advisor/Chaperone for American Junior Academy of Science Annual Meeting (Washington, DC, Seattle, WA, Denver, CO, Boston, MA)
  • Advisor/Chaperone for Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (Albuquerque, NM, Stillwater, OK, Iowa City, IA, Ames, IA)
  • Nebraska Education Technology Association (NETA) Conference Presenter (2011, 2010, 2009, 2007, 2006)

Awards

  • Teacher of the Year Winner, Adams Central Public Schools, 2016
  • Teacher of the Year Nominee, Adams Central Public Schools, 2009 - 2015
  • Who’s Who Among American High School Teachers, 2002

Community Service

  • Trustee, First Congregational UCC
  • Science Olympiad Sponsor
  • Superintendent for Adams County Rocket Contest
  • Superintendent Science and Technology, Adams County Fair
  • Superintendent, Adams County Insect Identification and Contest
  • Adams County 4 H Council

Professional Interests And Skills

  • 24+ years of experience in STEM education with a specialization in molecular biology and ecology.
  • Strong background in integrating technology into instruction and mentoring student research projects.
  • Experience in managing online learning platforms and digital classroom tools.
  • Active in professional science education networks and event coordination.

Timeline

Director - Central Nebraska Science and Engineering Fair
01.2019 - Current
Webmaster - Nebraska Junior Academy of Science
01.2017 - Current
Adjunct Instructor - Central Community College
01.2009 - Current
Research Teacher - University of Nebraska at Kearney
01.2009 - 01.2010
Science Teacher - Adams Central Public Schools
01.2005 - Current
Summer Science Teacher - Northwest Missouri State University
01.2005 - 01.2011
Science Teacher - Giltner Public Schools
01.2000 - 01.2005
University of Nebraska at Kearney - B.S., Secondary Education
University of Nebraska at Kearney - M.S., Biology
University of Nebraska at Kearney - 7-12 Education Administration,
University of Nebraska at Kearney - B.S., Biology
Jay CecrleClassroom Teacher – Science