NGSS Writing Team Member: Sherry Schaaf

Sherry Schaaf has been involved in science education in the state of Washington for the past thirty years, teaching secondary science and working with various national, state, and local agencies to further the science education of students and professional expertise of teachers.

Ms. Schaaf has served on the board of the Washington Science Teachers Association and as its President for two years. For seven years Ms. Schaaf was the Quillayute Valley School District’s Science Coordinator, managing a Virtual Classroom Water Quality Project for 11 districts statewide. When this project was completed Ms. Schaaf became a state Science Coach, working with teachers in professional learning communities to enhance their effectiveness in the teaching of science, mentoring in teachers’ classrooms, facilitating the writing of science curriculum frameworks, and implementing standards.

Ms. Schaaf also writes courses in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), science and mathematics for PBS Teacherlinem, and facilitates online learning in these areas. She works with the state of Washington in writing, revising, and implementing the state science standards. She is a member of the Science Assessment Leadership Team and the Instructional Materials Review Team for science in the state in the Washington.

Ms. Schaaf received the Presidential Award in Science Teaching for Secondary Science in 1990.

A long-time resident of Washington and specifically the Olympic Peninsula area of the state, Sherry graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Zoology and teacher certification in secondary science. She received her master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Lesley University.