Family	My home is in the Lake Zurich area where my children attend school in District 95.
Educator Profile	Year 2010-2011 is my 17th year teaching at Lake Zurich Middle School North. I have educated 6th, 7th, & 8th grades students on the subjects of Applied Technology, Physical and Cultural Geography, Life, Earth, Physical, Chemical, and Astronomical Sciences Active participant with the Jensen Learning Group on brain based teaching & learning.    I was selected for 6 Day Training "Teaching with the Brain In Mind" in San Diego California February 2008 and I attended "The Learning Brain Expo" in January 2009. A member of  TPCK (Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge) with National-Louis University 1995 Teacher Who Makes A Difference Nominee 2004 Outstanding Educator nominee by the Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce 2007 District 95 Meritorious Service Award Winner 2009 Outstanding Educator nominee by the Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce 2010 Outstanding Science Teacher for  for the Middle School category by the Abbott Labs Chapter of Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society Strong practical and theoretical foundation in teaching with proven success in teaching students to learn how to learn. “Real World” experiences. Highlights include: 1. Several employment experiences outside of the field of education including landscape management and design, real estate management. 2. Life and Earth science related research expeditions with National Louis University and Eastern Illinois University to:     a. South and North Dakota, Wyoming, Oregon, Washington State and Montana.     b. Two National Science Teacher Association expeditions 1998 and 2000 to New Zealand and Australia also sponsored by Portland State University, Oregon.     c. Eight separate expeditions of hiking, scuba diving and whale research trips encompassing five of the Islands of Hawaii including research at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and with the Pacific Whale Foundation.     d. Two educational tours in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. 3. A nine month college internship with Hillier Nurseries in Southern England.  Published articles in the Sun Times, Daily Herald, and Chicago Tribune with by line. Science Scope and other science and education trade publications. Classroom events have been published in the Daily Herald and Pioneer Press five times, twice on the front page.
Educator Experiences Past & Present	I am a presenter of workshops on topics surrounding Brain Incorporated Teaching and Learning. These can be 1+ hours,  1/2 day, full day. 2 day, or a 10 week course. These can be for parents and/or school staff. Latest workshops include: "Tools for Engagement" for Middle School South 4/18/08 "Maximizing Your Child's Learning Potential" for Parent University 2/18/09 & 4/14/09 "Brain Incorporated Learning" workshop for all District 95 teachers on 1/7/10 & 4/5/10 If you are interested in having a presentation for your organization, please ask! Jerry.Clemens@LZ95.org   2007 - Today:  National-Louis University  Adjunct faculty instructor of Graduate and Undergraduate pre-service teachers. Course name: Methods of Teaching Science and a self designed course entitled Brain Incorporated Teaching.   1994 – Today: Lake Zurich District 95 Lake Zurich Middle School North,   Hawthorn Woods, IL 6th, 7th, & 8th grades students on the subjects of Applied Technology, Physical and Cultural Geography, Life, Earth, Physical, Chemical, and Astronomical Sciences.   1993–1994                    Adlai Stevenson High School        Lincolnshire, IL Interim Science Teacher of Biology, Natural & Environmental Science, and Chemistry.
Business Experiences	1989–1993                    Re/Max Center Real Estate            Grayslake, IL Managing Broker and Co-Owner of the Real Estate Franchise. Duties involved program development, planning, training, budgeting, personnel, and coordination of technology necessary for sales and marketing of commercial and residential real estate.
	1987–1989                    Vignocchi & Associates       Arlington Heights, IL Sales & Marketing of prestigious single family home sites within the golf club community of Bull Valley Golf Club in Woodstock, Illinois.   1984–1989                     I.L.T., Inc.                                   Prairie View, IL Account Executive and landscape manager of several multi-family residential development communities including Lake Barrington Shores.
Education	Current Universities and Professional Development Organizations                                           Continued studies in education are now at a Masters of Education in Science degree plus 61 additional semester hours. Continued professional development in teaching, curriculum and instruction in science education include annual programs offered by Illinois Association for Gifted Children ; Northern Illinois University Outreach of New Ideas. I continue to attend several National Science Teachers Association Conferences. Past conferences include Chicago, Milwaukee, Denver, and Albuquerque.   January 2009, I attend a special training session at the 2009 Learning Brain Expo with the Jensen Learning Group.   February 2008 I attended a 6 day training program with The Jensen Learning Group entitled "Teaching with the Brain in Mind"  in California.   1993–1995                    National-Louis University                  Evanston, IL Master of Education in Science Degree, 1995.   1982–1984                    University of Illinois            Urbana-Champaign, IL Bachelor of Science and Practical Arts Education, 1984.   1980–1982                    McHenry County College            Crystal Lake, IL Associate of Ornamental Horticulture, Honors. 1982.
Memberships	National Science Teachers Association Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Archaeological Institute of America The Jensen Learning Group The Dana Foundation, Information about Brain Research Lake County Astronomical Society Planetary Studies Foundation Association of Applied Paleontological Sciences      International Meteorite Collectors Association
Interests	Spending time with my family. Collecting artifacts, fossils and meteorites. Hiking, scuba diving, and travel. The study and research of natural history, astronomy, paleo-anthropology and horticulture  Updating and re-construction of older homes. Reading historical fiction novels. Summers in Canada.
Statement of Educational Philosophy	In the collective capacity of the people in the school, parents, and the community, I believe that education should strive to make a difference in the lives of every student who enters the school. I am opposed to the fatalistic belief that students learn because of what they bring to the table, that they may or may not have the genetic background or environment that does or does not enable then to learn.  I reject that notion and believe that we as parents, teachers and administrators can influence how much and how well they learn, and that it is our obligation to do that for each and every student that comes into the classroom.  As educators, it is not our job to identify who the winners are; it is our job to make them all winners.  We cannot assess educational effectiveness with only the top students; we must be genuinely interested in every student’s success, in the classroom and beyond. “Your vision is not limited to what your eyes can see, but by what your mind can imagine” –Ellison S. Onizuka, Astronaut on the Space Shuttle ‘Challenger’.  Students cannot see their futures, they can only imagine them.  From our vantage point we can help them see that their education will take them places they never believed possible. We can help them imagine and focus their vision on their futures and provide instruments from our experiences and education that can entice them to use in the classroom and beyond their school. “Self trust is the first secret to success.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson. I believe parents and the people of education are the architects of the students achievement when we can establish confidence in the student, convincing them that they can do something that is beyond their reach.  Educators have the power to design principles that have validity in preparing students to enter the world with the proper tools to succeed. With this, a practical understanding incorporated with real life skills and integrity gained from knowing one's self is a priority in teaching. The school, within its political and societal atmosphere, should provide education for all children.  The school should provide a capacity where all children are inspired to identify their individual differences by exploring their learning skills and discovering their abilities.  I believe that their personal development in the school will enable them to fulfill their needs, hopes, and dreams in our society. Their development will provide a functional capacity for themselves, and for all people within civilization around the world. -Jerry Clemens 1984 I believe that utilizing the latest developments, information, and resources on how the brain learns, e.g. teaching with the brain in mind or brain incorporated teaching, is of the highest priority in contemporary best practices and methods of teaching. Today's students respond positively to intellectual stimulation, positive feedback and interaction, and hope. Brain incorporated teaching is not the only method or best practice, but to discount this valuable resource that is so readily available to parents and teachers would be irresponsible.  -Jerry Clemens 2007

 Back to Top