JUDITH PATRICIA WALZ FITZPATRICK

EXPERIENCE

2005 – CurrentHENRICO COUNTY SCHOOLS, Richmond, VA

Short Pump Elementary Teacher – Grade 4, Self-Contained Gifted

  • 2015-Present:Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Teacher Advisory Council Elementary Education representative
  • 2014-Present: Science Core Curriculum School Representative to County
  • 2014 Smash-O-Lantern!: A project- based learning activity to construct a catapult to compost pumpkins.
  • 2012-13 Stinger Trail: A project-based learning, the students researched plants and physical activities to create a nature and fitness trail for the community
  • 2013 Pumpkins!: A project-based learning activity. The students research cultural and scientific aspects of pumpkins and organized community pumpkin composting.
  • 2013 Henrico County Elementary Science: Committee to write Technology-Enhanced-Items
  • 2011-Present Henrico Schools Summer Academy teacher: STEM for Grades 4 and 5
  • 2011 Henrico County Elementary Science: Created Grade Four Standards of LearningScience Labs
  • 2009-12 Henrico County: Gifted Advisory Council Elementary Teacher Representative
  • 2008-Present Short Pump Elementary, Founder and Coordinator: Green Team (school-wide projects for the environment)
  • 2005-Present Short Pump Elementary, Coordinator: Treats for the Troops (School-wide project to collect items for troops)
  • 2005-Present Short Pump Elementary, Founder and Coordinator STEM and Experimental Design Fair
  • 2005 Henrico County: Science Textbook Selection Committee

1995 - 2005HENRICO COUNTY SCHOOLS, Richmond, VA

Holladay Elementary Teacher

  • 1995-1997 PRIME teacher, Remediation Math and Language Arts
  • 1997-2005 Teacher, grade 4
  • 2005 Lifetime PTA membership: Holladay Elementary PTA
  • 2003 Henrico County Elementary Science: Science Curriculum Development
  • 2000 Henrico County Elementary Social Studies: Assessment Test Development

1978 - 1995HOMEMAKER, Various locations

1996-2008 Youth Coordinator, St. Michael’s Catholic Church

  • Various volunteer positions in schools and community
  • English teacher to Korean Nationals, Seoul, Korea

1974 - 1978DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, Berlin, Germany

Berlin American Elementary Teacher – Grade 3

1972 – 1974RENTON SCHOOL DISTRICT, Renton, Washington

Hillcrest Elementary Teacher-Grade 4, 4&5

AWARDS / GRANTS WON

2015Henrico Citizen newspaper- Henrico’s Top Teacher award

2015Henrico21 Technology Award-Smash-O-Lantern, Short Pump Elementary

2015Henrico21 Student Technology Award-Henry B. Brown, Book Celebration website; Choose your Adventure

2015R.E.B. Award for Teaching Excellence-Nominee, Short Pump Elementary

2014Virginia State Conservation Educator Teacher of the Year, VA Assoc. of Soil & Water Conservation

2014Teacher of the Year, Short Pump Elementary

2014Henrico21 Student Technology Award-The Tree Saver, Short Pump Elementary

2013Henrico21 Technology Award – Stinger Trail, Short Pump Elementary

2013Virginia Historical Society: Florence S. Cabaniss Teacher, Short Pump Elementary

2013R.E.B. Award for Teaching Excellence - Nominee, Short Pump Elementary

2012R.E.B. Award for Teaching Excellence - Nominee, Short Pump Elementary

2011Awarded Grant from Math & Science Innovation Center for a Proposal to study Fractals

2010Distinguished Elementary School Science Teacher Award - Virginia Section of American Chemical Society

2009Teacher of the Year, Short Pump Elementary

2009Mark Edwards Scholarship, Henrico Education Foundation

2004R.E.B. Award for Teaching Excellence – Semi-Finalist, Holladay Elementary

2003Excellence in Economic Education Award- VCU Center for Economic Education

2002Teacher of the Year, Holladay Elementary

2002Grant Recipient for study of Prominent Virginians-Richmond Forum

2001Educator of the Week, Channel 6

2001Grant Recipient for Archaeology Studies in Classroom, Richmond Forum

1996Awarded Grant from Partners in the Arts for a Proposal on Animal Tunes and ‘Toons

1977Teacher of the Year, Berlin American Elementary

CERTIFICATION

Postgraduate Professional License: Virginia

Endorsements: Early Education NK-4; Gifted Education; Middle Education Grades 4-8

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, Seattle, WA

Bachelor of Arts, Sociology and Elementary Education, 1972

LESLEY UNIVERSITY,Cambridge, MA

Masters of Science in Ecological Teaching and Learning, 2011

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND CONFERENCES

Clubs or Organizations

Virginia Association of Science Teachers

Virginia Association for the Gifted

North American Association for Environmental Education

Virginia Master Naturalists

Virginia Children’s Engineering Council

Conferences and Workshops: Presenter

2015Virginia Children’s Engineering Conference, Williamsburg, VA: Incorporating Engineering into Problem-Based and Project-Based Learning

2014-presentCodeVA, Richmond, VA: K-5 Curriculum Training

2014VMI STEM Conference, Lexington, VA: Engineering is Elementary: Integrating Science and Engineering

2014Virginia Children’s Engineering Conference, Richmond, VA: Engineering is Elementary: Plant Pollinators

2013Virginia Children’s Engineering Conference, Richmond, VA: Engineering: Naturally

2012Science is Gold Conference, Richmond, VA: Teaching Virginia State Standards using Place-Based Education Strategies

2011North American Association for Environmental Education Conference, Raleigh, NC: Teaching Virginia State Standards

Using Place-Based Education Strategies

2011Virginia Children’s Engineering Conference, Richmond, VA: Engineering for the Non-Engineer

2003Henrico County Summer Institute, Richmond, VA: Review in a Flash

2002Virginia Council of Social Studies Conference, Roanoke: Review in a Flash

2001Henrico County Summer Institute, Richmond, VA: Review in a Flash

Conferences and Workshops: Participant

2016EdTech RVA (ISTE affiliate local conference)

2015Globaloria Hands-On Training: Virtual and Washington D,C. :How to introduce Game Design to Elementary Students

2015Math Science Innovation Center, Richmond, VA: Common Thread K-12 Educator Conference

2015Natural Connections, Richmond, VA: Interdisciplinary Strategies for Teaching and Learning

2015Virginia Center for Economic Education: Alternative Assessments in the Mini Economy

2014Code VA, Richmond, VA: Introduce Computer Science and Computer Coding to Elementary Students

2014VA DOE/Intel online class: Project Based Approaches

2014Museum of Science, Boston Professional Development: Engineering is Elementary

2013Math Science Innovation Center, Richmond, VA: Building for the Future

2013Natural Connections, Richmond, VA: Place-Based Strategies for Teaching and Learning

2012Smithsonian Institution, Seattle, WA: Smithsonian Folkways

2011Math Science Innovation Center, Richmond, VA: Fractals: A Tool for Integrating Multiple Disciplines

2010Biomimicry3.8 Institute, Portland, OR: Workshop for Educators

2009Math Science Innovation Center, Richmond, VA: Building for the Future II: A Conference for Teachers of 3-5 Math and Science

2004Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA: Teachers’ Institute Slavery in Virginia

2004Chesapeake Bay Foundation Teachers’ Institute, Tappahannock, VA: Exploring Watersheds

2002New York Stock Exchange, New York, NY: Teacher Education

2001National conference for Social Studies Educators, Orlando, FL:

2000Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA: Teachers’ Institute: Archaeology

1997MathScience Innovation Center, Richmond, VA: Using Toys to Teach Physics

Board and Advisory Council Member

2015Miles of Scarves, Richmond, VA: Student-Created Charitable Organization to support MS

2015Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, VA: Teacher Advisory Council

2014Virginia Council for Economic Education, Richmond, VA: Advisory Council to build Mini-Economy Content

2003?Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA: Teacher Advisory Council