Meet our teacher team:

Bernadette Monahan earned a BA degree in Liberal Studies and Education from California State University at San Bernardino in San Bernardino, California.  She also earned a M.Ed. degree with a concentration in Instructional Technology from Troy University in Troy, AL.  She is currently certified PK-6 in Virginia.  Her research and professional experience include work as a 5th grade science teacher in the Upland Unified School District in Upland, CA, and as a 4th grade classroom teacher with Frederick County Public Schools in Winchester, VA.  From 2003 through 2005 she served on the 4th Grade Math Standards of Learning Assessment Content Review Committee with the Virginia Department of Education.  Mrs. Monahan currently teaches 4th grade in Frederick County, VA.  She is presently the Co-director and Lead Research Consultant for the Stem Education Center under the direction of David Wojick.  Her Master’s thesis focused on the cognitive research on gender differences in science and math learning.
     
Cristin Livingston earned a BS degree in Elementary Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Indiana, PA.  She also earned a M.Ed. degree with a concentration in Instructional Technology from Troy University in Troy, AL.  She currently holds teaching certifications in Pennsylvania, Florida and Virginia.  She is certified PK-6 in Virginia.  Mrs. Livingston’s research and professional experience include work as a 3rd grade classroom teacher for Orange County Public Schools in Orlando, FL, and as both a 4th and 5th grade classroom teacher for Frederick County Public Schools in Winchester, VA.  In 2009 and 2010 she participated on the Standards of Learning Item and Test Review Committee for Virginia Studies with the Virginia Department of Education.  She currently teaches 4th grade in Frederick County, VA, and serves as the Lead Social Studies Teacher for her school.  At present she is also a Consultant for the Stem Education Center with David Wojick working with Grade Level Stratification of state science standards and the analysis of differences among state science standards.  Her Master’s thesis focused on how retention affects the students (academically, socially, and behaviorally) at the Elementary Level.

Jennifer Arey Paschke earned a BS degree in Elementary Education from West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV.  She also earned a M.Ed. degree with a concentration in Instructional Technology from Troy University in Troy, AL.  She currently holds a Virginia Postgraduate Professional Teaching License in Elementary Education (PK-6).  Her research and professional experience include work as both a 5th grade science teacher and a 4th grade classroom teacher in Frederick County, VA.  She currently works as an Elementary Instructional Technology Resource Teacher for Frederick County Public Schools in Winchester, VA.  At present she is also a Consultant with the Stem Education Center with David Wojick working with Grade Level Stratification of state science standards and the analysis of differences among state science standards.  Her Master’s thesis research focused on the association between level of students’ metacognitive skills and academic performance.   

Heather Bachschmid Smelser earned a BS degree in Early Childhood Education from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.  She also earned a M.Ed. degree with a concentration in Instructional Technology from Troy University in Troy, AL.  She currently holds the Early Childhood Generalist, National Board Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.  She is certified NK-4 in Virginia.  Ms. Smelser’s research and professional experience include work as a Kindergarten and 1st grade teacher for Clarke County Public Schools in Berryville, VA, and as a Kindergarten and 1st grade teacher for Frederick County Public Schools in Winchester, VA.  She is currently a 1st grade teacher in Frederick County, VA, and works as a consulting editor for Corwin Press Educational Publishers in Thousand Oaks, CA.  At present she is also a Consultant with the Stem Education Center with David Wojick working with Grade Level Stratification of state science standards and the analysis of differences among state science standards.  Her Master’s thesis researched the effect of retention versus social promotion on students.