About the illinois biology storylines curriculum

We began this project with 3 goals in mind:

1. Train educators in three-dimensional learning, teaching, and coherent curricular design as prescribed by the NGSS through sustained collaborative work and by both experiencing and doing it themselves; 
2. Create coherent storylines, including embedded three-dimensional assessment pieces that will evolve over time through continuous feedback from implementing teachers; and most of all,
3. Share our work- for teachers, by teachers, for free-  with any stakeholders interested in making the fundamental shift towards a three-dimensional classroom. 

Our first working group met in 2015 and included educators from 5 districts with a passion for figuring out how to bring the NGSS to classrooms. We grew to include developers and pilot teachers representing over 100 districts from across the state and country. The storylines are now being successfully implemented by teachers in all 50 states and at least 19 other countries. 

You can now access these storylines and the NEW Illinois Chemistry storylines at: allspeciesconsulting.com/storylines

Who we are

 Jason Crean, MS Bio, EdD, has taught high school biology for 25 years and university biology and pre-service science teacher training since 2010. Crean has been awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching, the highest award a teacher can receive in the US, by President Obama in 2009, the 2010 High School Science Teacher of the Year by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, as well as awards from the National Science Teachers Association, the National Association of Biology Teachers, the Illinois Science Teachers Association, the Golden Apple Foundation, among others. He served as President for the Illinois Science Teachers Association, President for the Illinois Association of Biology Teachers, and president for the Association of Presidential Awardees in Science Teaching and the College Board's National Science Advisory Panel. He now works solely for HHMI BioInteractive, where he continues to lead storyline development for life science courses.   

Kristin Rademaker, MEd began her career as a K-12 educator, spending over 18 years as a science and special education teacher before moving into a coaching role. Rademaker was awarded the Robert E Yager Excellence in Teaching Award in 2017 and NSTAs Distinguished Teacher Award in 2018. She has served as president of the Illinois Science Teaching Association, as a member of the Illinois Science Assessment development team, and as a curriculum reviewer for Achieve. Rademaker currently serves as an assessment systems reviewer for the U.S Department of Education, a Professional Development Specialist for the National Science Teaching Association, and storyline developer for HHMI BioInteractive.