Mrs. Medina

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE 

I am currently the Dual Language Science teacher for Onslow County schools. My professional goal is to promote the holistic formation of my students as citizens of the planet who are proactive and conscious of the interconnections and needs of the world around us. I focus on developing the 21st century skills in each of my pupils in order to prepare them to be the leaders of a globalized world.  

EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE  

My credentials include a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction with emphasis in Science Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2007), and a degree in Biology from Los Andes University in Bogota, Colombia (1999). Additionally, I have completed the online courses Mindfulness Fundamentals (2012) and Mindful Educator Essentials (2019) with Mindful Schools.  

WORK EXPERIENCE & LEADERSHIP 

Since the year 2000, I have worked in bilingual/international schools in Bogota (Colegio Gimnasio Vermont and Colegio Hacienda Los Alcaparros), Santa Marta (Colegio Bilingue de Santa Marta and Bureche International School) and Barranquilla (Altamira International School) in Colombia. I earned a scholarship from COLFUTURO (2005) and obtained a Master’s degree in Education. I had the opportunity to be a returning Teacher Assistant for Biology AP students, and work as a Research Assistant for the Synchrotron Radiation Center, to develop a physics course as part of the PEOPLE (Pre-College Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence) program offered by UW – Madison. Since my return to Colombia in 2007, I have worked in leadership positions, not only being the head of the science department, but also the coordinator for the science fair, environmental projects, and the liaison for the alignment, revision, and implementation of science curricula in several institutions.  

By the end of 2017, I pursued a teacher international exchange opportunity with Global Teaching Partners, and I was hired to join the teacher force for Onslow County in August 2018. While holding this position I have created, improved, and creatively implemented the curriculum for the Encore class “LOCAL CULTURES IN A GLOBALIZED WORLD”. This course focuses on human culture, which includes its acquisition, values, and current issues; factors that shape it like family, work, art, music, food, and religion. We study and compare daily routines and customs for different societies throughout the planet to understand that different countries have different cultures, but we are all interconnected worldwide. Additionally, I’m trailblazing the path for teaching science in Spanish for the Dual Language program, this class is scaffold on hands-on activities, inquiry-based research, and student-led projects that boost the learning of scientific work, promote peer review and the ethical practices of science. 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 

Throughout my teaching career, I have received exceptional preparation on teaching strategies and the use of technology. Some include workshops about: The Leader in Me: Covey’s 7 habits. Blended Learning by planning and implementing station rotations with Tiffany Wycoff. Flipped classrooms with the elaboration of playlists. The gradual release of responsibility using visible thinking strategies. Design thinking and Project-Based Learning.