Fellow Profiles

Biography

Kevin Swanson is an eighth grade Earth science teacher from Chippewa Middle School in North Oaks, Minnesota. Kevin Swanson followed a non-standard path to classroom teaching that included two years in the Peace Corps, completion of a graduate degree in geology, and six years as a professional hydrologist in both the public and private sectors. In 1998, though, Kevin became a full-time, credentialed classroom teacher. Since then, he has taught at the middle and high school level in both chemistry and Earth science.

Ms. Swanson is involved with several national curriculum reform and teacher development efforts. He is a member of the State Leadership Team for DataStreme, a project of the American Meteorological Society which encourages and trains teachers to use weather education as a vehicle for teaching science and math. As a leader of DataStreme, he has helped to instruct and develop courses for fellow teachers. Mr. Swanson also teaches "Project Lead the Way" classes as part of a middle school pre-engineering curriculum adopted by his School District. His class incorporates 3D computer aided design, robotics and other technologies.

An active member of several professional organizations, Mr. Swanson regularly organizes workshops for fellow teachers on teaching techniques and special projects. He also reviews the standards and implementation of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments in Science. He has a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry and German from North Dakota State University and a Master's in Geology from the University of Wisconsin.