Our mission is to facilitate opportunities for advocacy and collaboration among teachers to share the ways in which the  Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards have empowered them to increase equity and rigor in  their classrooms.

 Core Beliefs
  1. The Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards are  powerful vehicles for increasing equity in the classroom, ensuring that all students receive a fair, high-quality education, regardless of where they live, their ability, the color of their skin, or their socioeconomic background.
  2. The Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards are  powerful vehicles for increasing rigor in the classroom, ensuring that all students have access to academically challenging work that encourages them to think critically and creatively in preparation for 21st century postsecondary experiences.
  3. Collaboration and research around the standards empower educators across the country to implement equitable and rigorous educational experiences and lead in creating transformative change in America’s classrooms.

Who are we? 
Katrina, who has been a high school teacher for six years, currently works in a hybrid role – spending half of her time in an English classroom at Shelby County High School in Shelbyville, KY and working half-time as a Teacher Leader on Special Assignment with the Kentucky Department of Education. Katrina is a Teacher Fellow for the America Achieves Fellowship for Teachers and Principals, a Core Advocate for Student Achievement Partners, a Teacher Champion for the Collaborative for Student Success, an English Trainer for Laying the Foundation, and a coach with the National Blogging Collaborative. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Kentucky and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Morehead State University.  Katrina’s writing interests include education policy, politics, the Common Core State Standards, and teacher leadership. Her work has been featured on the Teach to Lead Blog, Education Week’s Teaching Ahead Roundtable, and Kentucky Teacher. In her free time, Katrina enjoys reading and writing poetry. She lives in Louisville, Kentucky with her husband and son.

Follow Katrina @katrinaboone or at www.rhymeswithcreature.com 
Tricia Shelton is a High Science Teacher and Teacher Leader with a BS in Biology and MA in Teaching, who has worked for 20 years in Kentucky driven by a passion to help students develop critical and creative thinking skills. Tricia is a 2014 NSTA Distinguished Teaching Award winner for her contributions to and demonstrated excellence in Science Teaching. As a Professional Learning Facilitator and NGSS Implementation Team Leader, Tricia has worked with educators across the United States to develop Best Practices in the Science and Engineering classroom through conference presentations, webinars, coordinating and co- moderating #NGSSchat on Twitter, and virtual and face to face PLC work.  Tricia’s current Professional Learning Facilitation includes work around the Next Generation Science Standards and helping STEM students develop the 21st Century Skills of critical and creative thinking, collaboration and communication (including Social media and Video) and Project-Based Learning. Since 2011, she has conducted action research in her classroom to develop effective and accessible instructional and assessment strategies incorporating Best Practice in the STEM classroom, including work for the Marzano Research Laboratory.  Through a partnership with BenchFly, the premier science video production platform, she works with CEO, Dr. Alan Marnett, to reinvent scientific education and communication with video.
  
Follow Tricia on Twitter @TdiShelton or at
https://tdishelton.wordpress.com/
Michelle Ruckdeschel is the Director of Heritage Park High School in Owensboro, KY. Previously, she had been the mathematics teacher and staff developer at the school for five years. She earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Kentucky, a master’s degree and teacher certification at Murray State University, and an Education Specialist degree and principal certification at the University of the Cumberlands. Ruckdeschel has participated in the Math Design Collaborative (MDC), Professional Growth and Effectiveness System (PGES) Pilot Teacher and Virtual Observer projects in KY. She also takes part in planning and presenting at the Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teachers (ECET2KY) initiatives at district, regional and state levels.    Ruckdeschel is the recipient of a 2015 Ashland Inc. Teacher Achievement, Campbellsville University High School Excellence in Teaching, Beacon Central High School and Daviess County Public Schools High School Teacher of the Year and Foundation for Daviess County Public Schools Great Expectations Focus awards. She is a member of the Daviess County, Kentucky and National Education Associations, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and National Business Education Association. Ruckdeschel is an American Achieves National Teaching Fellow, a Teacher Champion with the Collaborative for Student Success, and a Common Core Advocate with Student Achievement Partners.


Contact Michelle through Email: michelleruck1@gmail.com
Or follow on Twitter: @ruck1m