Katherine De Barra

• Develops and implements engaging interdisciplinary projects using online teaching tools. Increased student motivation and achievement, resulting in course pass rate improvement of more than 20%, exceeding goals set by administrative team.
• Led initiatives to create CTE Health Sciences graduation pathway, developing three new courses. Successfully grew enrollment from 40 to 180+ students per trimester. Partnered with Olympic College to establish College in High School Medical Terminology course.
• Elected chairperson of General Advisory Council for Quillayute Valley School District, a collaborative effort between educators and community partners.
• Serves as Science Department Liaison and homeroom advisor, demonstrating leadership and effective communication with faculty, administration, and families.
• Designs and facilitates online professional development programs for a staff of 80+ teachers to promote equitable teaching practices.
• Maintains accurate records and communicates effectively with students and families through SST meetings, homeroom sessions, and in-person events to promote student engagement and success.
• Faculty advisor for SkillsUSA Health Science CTSO, promoting student growth in leadership and technical skills.

• Taught 2-3 subjects per year, including Anatomy & Physiology, AP Environmental Science, Biology, and Chemistry. Managed teaching overloads when course demand increased without the need to hire new staff.
• Effectively supports Special Education and ELL student populations, partnered with co-teachers to deliver personalized educational experiences based on student needs.
• Awarded grant from Somerset Hills Education Foundation to collaborate with community partners and integrate yoga in Anatomy & Physiology program.
• Created and led professional development courses for district faculty to promote inquiry based instruction and adoption of NGSS standards.
• Planned and led impactful field trips to Liberty Science Center's "Live From Surgery" program and NJ Sharing Network, enhancing students' real-world science experiences. Faculty advisor for NJ Science League Environmental Science team. Worked with vendors to achieve cost-effective transportation solutions and maintained accurate budget records for school-board approval.
• Provided home-instruction through online platforms and home visits, showcasing adaptability and commitment to personalized student learning.

• Authored over 200 assessment items and tutoring feedback on assigned topics for use in college level Biology online homework program.
• Utilized effective research methods to meet needs of target market and create engaging and instructional content.
• Provided content review and preliminary copy editing for team members, maintaining accurate records through shared documents and spreadsheets.
• Communicated effectively with project team leader and editors, submitting assignments and revisions according to project deadlines.

• Taught Human Biology in a pre-nursing program course sequence including lecture and laboratory components.
• Incorporated writing and research projects to meet department-wide goals for student growth. Encouraged class interaction by building discussions into lessons, actively soliciting input, and engaging questioning techniques.
• Graded quizzes, tests, and projects to provide students with timely academic feedback.

• Taught high-level courses including AP Biology, Biotechnology, and Contemporary Problems in Biology. Held Advanced Professional Certification in Biology and Chemistry for grades 7-12
• Named finalist for STEM Educator of the Year award by Tech Council of Maryland in 2012, highlighting outstanding contributions to science education.
• Developed new curriculum for county-wide Concepts of Physical Science course adopted by 20+ high schools, aligning lessons and assessments with Next Generation Science Standards and utilizing Problem Based Learning strategies.
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary team to reinvent Biotechnology course and tripled course enrollment within 3 years.
• Successfully secured over $100k in grants to acquire advanced scientific equipment and technology.
• Completed Aspiring Leaders course, demonstrating commitment to professional growth and leadership within the education community.

Laboratory Management Duties:

• Communicated with vendors to establish and manage service contracts for maintenance and repair of equipment, while adhering to government-wide and Health and Human Services standards and ethical conduct
• Managed inventory of laboratory supplies to support research team
• Prepared cost estimates for projects and activities
• Performed regular safety inspections and reported to OSHA division

Research Responsibilities:

• Participated in research related to mammalian development using knowledge of molecular and cell biology and biochemistry
• Maintained transgenic colony of 5-10 lines of genetically engineered mice
• Assisted in writing and editing reports for publication and presentation at scientific meetings.