PERSONAL BACKGROUND.
· Grew up on a farm near Adel, Iowa, in Dallas County with parents, Edith and Herman Zobrist, and brother, Dale
· Participated in speech, drama, band, choral, and journalism activities at Adel "High School and graduated in 1962
· Elected Dallas County 4-H President, State 4-H Vice-President, and delegate to National 4-H Conference
· Attended Iowa State University from 1962-66; selected for Iowa State Players, Beacons and Tomahawk honoraries, and residence hall vice-president
· Graduated from Iowa State University with BS Degree in 1966 in Child Development - Elementary Education, with teaching certification in secondary speech and communications
· Married Robert Kelly in 1968
· Graduated from Purdue University with MS Degree in 1970 in Child Development and Family Life, with emphasis on Early Childhood Education
· Had son, Ryan Robert Kelly (1978)
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
· West Elementary in Storm Lake, Iowa (1966-69), Miami Elementary in Lafayette, Indiana (1970-71), and Meeker Elementary in Ames, Iowa (1971-present)
· Educational Television Series, “Pathways of Childhood" (1969-70)
· College of Education, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa -- Elementary Social Studies Methods Class (Summers, 1992-4)
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Member district committees for Ames Community Schools, such as language arts, science cabinets, writing teams, instructional improvement teams, professional evaluation, and task force on communication
· Author and Editor for , Iowa Elementary Science Teachers newsletter for Iowa Academy of Science (1986-1995)
· Author for professional articles in publications, such as Iowa Science Teachers Journal, Science and Children, , and Facts on File.
· Author of more than twenty word puzzle books and game kits published by Contemporary Designs, Gilbert, Iowa (1987-1995)
AWARDS AND HONORS:
· Chaired District Curriculum Team that developed National Science Teachers Association award-winning National Exemplary Elementary Science Program (1982-83)
· Facilitated sixth grade class in nationally recognized research project, "Rescue Reunion," that reunited survivors and rescuers of World War II in event covered by three television networks, National Public Radio, Armed Forces Radio Network wire services, and over 25 other media sources (1985)
· Helped sixth grade students locate California man's seven brothers and sisters from whom he had been separated over 60 years (1985)
· Had articles for 1985 elementary class project with sixth graders appear in over 38 Iowa sources, 45 out-of-state sources, 3 other countries, and 6 national publications that were recorded by students
· Received pin from New Jersey State Police presented by forensic photographer John F. Bartek, in honor of outstanding investigative work with students (1985)
· Featured as teacher and class on National Radio Broadcast by the country of Tuvalu, Central Pacific (October, 1985)
· Had articles about sixth graders in McCall's Magazine (selected as one of the 86 Happy Endings for 1986), Newsweek Magazine (selected as teacher and class as some of 100 heroes for "Sweet Land of Liberty" Issue, 1986), featured in Reader’s Digest (July, 1987, and then selected for international editions in Braille, Korean, Chinese, and Spanish), and (1992)
· Delivered almost 100 presentations, many with elementary students as major presenters; shared topics such as science, elementary education, investigative research, and special projects accomplished with elementary students
· Received award for Outstanding Graduate from Iowa State University, Contributions in Speech Communications, from Iowa State University, Speech Communications Department (1985)
· Selected as finalist in Iowa Teacher of the Year Contest (1985-86) and finalist as U.S. West Outstanding Teacher from Iowa (1988)
· Selected as national winner of the NSTA-Gustav Ohaus Award for Innovations in Elementary Science Teaching (1987)
· Received National Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching in area of elementary science teaching (1990)
· Received Outstanding Service Award from the Iowa Science Teachers Section of the Iowa Academy of Science (1991) 7/1/96 |
