In the fall of 2013, Wendy stepped away from the classroom to pursue a PhD in science education at Michigan State University. She worked on the Carbon TIME Project developing an NGSS-aligned biology curriculum and professional development for teachers. She also taught courses for preservice science teachers and served as a field instructor for student teachers. Her dissertation research examined the role of curiosity in classroom discourse to support three-dimensional science learning. In 2017 she earned a dual PhD in Curriculum, Instruction and Teacher Education and in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior.

Graduate school heightened Wendy's awareness of issues of equity in education. She knew that upon completion of her degree, she wanted to teach and enroll her two daughters in a diverse public school district. In 2017 she and her husband moved their family to Kentwood for her to take a job with Kentwood Public Schools, the most diverse district in the state. She is currently teaching at the East Kentwood Freshman Campus where she has taken an active role in helping to develop a new 9th grade science curriculum that combines biology and physics performance expectations. She is also a member of her school's PBIS committee working to ensure equitable outcomes for all students.

Wendy has been an active member of NABT, presenting at six of the national professional development conferences. She has had three articles published in The American Biology Teacher and has also served as a reviewer for the journal. She was a participant in the first cohort of the NABT/BSCS AP Biology Leadership Academy, and went on to help lead Biology Teacher Academies in Michigan, New York, and Colorado.

Wendy has a passion for supporting other science teachers. She has presented more than 50 times at state and national conferences and local workshops for teachers. She has also worked as an independent consultant providing professional development to school districts and creating online learning modules around the NGSS. She is a current member of the board of directors of the Michigan Association of Biology Teachers, a state affiliate of NABT.

Congratulations to Mark Eberhard as the 2019 Outstanding Biology Teacher Award recipient for Michigan. Mark is a graduate of Michigan State University and will be beginning his 34th year as a biology teacher at St. Clair High School, in the East China School District. He has taught AP Biology, general biology, environmental science, and anatomy & physiology. He serves as an HHMI BioInteractive Ambassador, a member of the College Board’s Pre-AP Biology writing team, a member of the Board of Directors for the Michigan Association of Biology Teachers (MABT), and is a graduate of cohort 1 for the NABT/BSCS AP Biology Leadership Academy. He has developed and facilitated numerous workshops at NABT, NSTA, MABT, MSTA and for the NABT/BSCS Regional Teacher Academies.

In addition to teaching biology at St. Clair high, Mark, in the past, has coached football, wrestling, and baseball for nearly 20 years. He currently is the director of his school’s theatre program for the past 23 years (over 85 productions), and has built an award-winning student leadership program over the past 30 years.

Mark has been married to his wife Kim for 27 years, whom is an accomplished AP English Literature teacher at St. Clair High School. They are the proud parents of four children Erin, Erich, Ean, and Eamon, all who are currently earning or have earned degrees in biology and/or environmental science.

The PLC will have some structured time as well as unstructured, informal time for teachers to collaborate.

General plan for the day ...

• Michigan teachers that attended the AP Biology Read in Kansas City will share the scoring rubric for the 2019 exam and discuss the suggested areas of emphasis for improvement for 19-20
• We will explore, breakdown, and discuss the new CED Binder and the new 8 Unit Structure
• We will explore, breakdown, and discuss the new format for Science Practices - now six science practices with a more details
• We will explore, breakdown and discuss the new online resources (please bring a lap top or tablet with you) that are to be released on August 01, 2019 -- this includes personal progress checks, a progress dashboard, an AP Biology Question Bank
• We will also explore and discuss current best practices in our AP classrooms

NOTE: The PLC sessions will be lead by Michigan AP Biology teachers that do NOT claim to be experts on the new CED or online resources. We have not received any additional training on these resources beyond the typical AP biology teacher. The intent of the PLC is to explore and learn together. We all will bring our own expertise to unpack the best practices for teaching AP Biology. (MABT Board of Directors have experience in teaching AP Biology ranging from 5 years to 20+ years - ALL experience levels are welcome!)

MEALS: In order to keep the PLC FREE, there will be no meals served during the PLC. We will provide a light snack at approximately 11:00 am. Please eat breakfast and/or pick up a coffee before you arrive at the PLC. Also, plan on having lunch after the PLC ends at 1:00 PM. We can provide some recommendations of local restaurants if there is an interest.

1. a copy of your ticket (electronic or paper)
2. a laptop computer or tablet to explore the College Board website for the new AP Biology resources - WE STRONGLY encourage you explore this website a bit before our PLC on 8/13. (Available 8/01)
3. a copy of the new CED for AP Biology - WE STRONGLY encourage you to explore the new CED to familiarize yourself before our PLC on 8/13.
4. 30 copies of 1-2 of your favorite activities, labs, case studies, etc. for use in AP Biology to share.

SCECHS: The plan is to have SCECHS available for participating in the AP Biology PLC. We are just waiting final confirmation, but expect approval to not be an issue.

Where to go when you get to Holt High School: