Mr. Jeff Christopherson

About Me :I have worked as a research chemist for The Upjohn Company, but found I enjoyed interacting with students and teaching more than real work.

Professional Interests: Develop web based curricula to enhance the students classroom experience. I know very little about programming and ‘web’ but can see how it can be useful to students. My greatest expertise is in developing PowerPoint presentations. I also take great pride and enjoy mentoring new chemistry teachers at my school.

Professional Goal: Work with chemistry teachers to share chemistry lessons, demonstrations, and tutorial programs via the internet.

I would publish others work on my site (they would be given credit on the page). Any teacher could use these lessons and ideas.

Personal Interests: I love my family, gardening, photography, wood-working and home repair & remodeling.

Most summers I can be found in my yard or gardens watching them (kids and plants) grow and change.

Teaching Style: I try to bring a professional attitude to the students about the dangers of chemicals and how to handle them safely.
   My teaching style is a volatile mix of high enthusiasm, dry humor, and story telling to explain chemical concepts.
   I try to perform lots of demonstrations to enlighten and excite students.
   Students will rarely say “I’m bored” in my classroom. They know the work is hard, but they have fun.

· Spring 2020 voted "Favorite Teacher - March Madness" at NCHS

· Honorary Ironman (NCHS Homecoming 2019)

· Merlot Classics Award Winner for 2016 by Editors Choice:

Invited speaker for the Innovate Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, April 20-22, 2016 (unable to attend)

· ACS Division of Chemical Education Award for Excellence in High School Teaching (2011) at the Joint Midwest/Great Lakes Regional Meeting in St. Louis, MO.

· University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign EnLiST participant (2011-2012)

· Who's Who Among America's Teachers (1998, 2000)

· Davidson Award - Chemistry Teacher of the Year - Illinois (2010)

· Who's Who Among America's Teachers (1998, 2005, 2006, 2007)

· Moveable Feast Instructor (Summer 2008-2016 - Expertise: PowerPoint, SharePoint Designer and web presence)

· Illinois State Board of Education Those Who Excel Award of Recognition (2008-2009)

· Induction into the National Honor Roll's Outstanding American Teachers organization (2007)

· American Chemical Society (Illinois Heartland Local Section)
High School Teacher of the Year 2004

· Recipient of Beyond the Books Grants (multiple years)

· American Chemical Society (Illinois Heartland Local Section)
Outstanding Chemistry Student 1989

Publications:

Shutterfly PHOTO Website

Chemistry Web Site - High School (CeMast Newsletter -page 2)

www.unit5.org/chemistry 2007

CMS
Schoolwires site
moodle site

Course ManagementSystem

www.unit5.org/science 2007 (webmaster)

www.unit5.org/biology 2007 (webmaster)

www.unit5.old/christjs 2002-06 (archived)

www.unit5.org/staffnchs 2008 (webmaster)
www.che.ilstu.edu/ipchris/ (webmaster)

Instructional Support CD (Chemistry) 2007 v7.0

“Effects of Exercise Detraining on Lipid Storage in Rats”
Transactions of the Illinois State Academy of Science (1999)
Volume 92, 3 and 4, pp. 203-209.

“Clinical Experiences & Student Teaching Handbook”
Biology/Chemistry/Physics/Technology – Contributing Author
Alliance for Scientific Literacy – Illinois State University (1998)

Presentations:

· In-service presentation for NCHS staff on LOOM and Remote Presentation Techniques (Sept 25, 2020)

· Science Palooza - Prairieland Elementary Science Fair (April 2017, 2018, 2019) "Chemistry Extravaganza"

· 5^th Grade Elementary Classes Prairieland Elementary School (2016) "Chemistry Extravaganza"

· Science Palooza - Prairieland Elementary Science Fair (April 16, 2015) "Chemistry Extravaganza" presented with John Bergmann

· Science Palooza - Prairieland Elementary Science Fair (April 2016) "Chemistry Extravaganza" presented with John Bergmann

· 5^th Grade Elementary Classes Prairieland Elementary School (2015) "Chemistry Extravaganza"

· Science Palooza - Prairieland Elementary Science Fair (April 16, 2015) "Chemistry Extravaganza" presented with John Bergmann

· Benjamin Elementary Science Fair (April 14, 2015) "Chemistry Extravaganza" presented with Mike Roller

· Grove Science Fair (April 7, 2015) Grove Elementary School "Chemistry Extravaganza" presented with Mike Roller

· Betabrain Volunteer (March 13, 2015) STEM group science solving experiments at Kinglsey Junior High (Grades 6-12)

· Presenter at In-service for Unit 5 Schools - Course Management System with Joel Swanson (Jan 2015)

· Science Palooza - Chemistry Demonstration Show (April. 8, 2014) at Prairieland Elementary, Normal, IL presented with John Bergmann

· Benjamin Elementary Science Fair (April 15, 2014) presented with Mike Roller

· 5^th Grade Elementary Classes Prairieland Elementary Chemistry Demonstrations (May 8, 2014) presented with Dr. Indu Christopherson (ISU)

· Grove Science Fair (April 28, 2014) Grove Elementary School presented with Mike Roller

· NAACP Chemistry Judge (April 28, 2014)

· Betabrain (April 26, 2014) STEM group science solving experiments at NCHS (Grades 6-12)

· Benjamin Elementary Class visit (with Chem 2 classes present hands-on lessons for four 4^th grade classes) 2013 with Mike Roller

· High School Chemistry Competition: Chemistry Demonstrator (May 2, 2012) presented with John Bergmann and Michael Roller at Illinois State University

· Science Palooza - Chemistry Demonstration Show (April. 19, 2012) at Prairieland Elementary, Normal, IL presented with John Bergmann

· Technology Coach - Normal Community High School (2011-Present)

· "Web Tools Speed Dating" Presenter at IllinIce sponsored meeting Oct 1, 2011 at Bloomington Junior High School.

· Cub Scout - Chemistry Demonstration Show Feb. 2, 2011 (at Prairieland Elementary, Normal, IL)

· ACT Prep Class for High School Students - (April 2011-2015)

· ISU Chemistry Club Meeting: Chemistry Demonstrations - Invited Speaker (Jan. 31, 2011)

· Chemistry Methods Students at Illinois State University (Jan. 10, 2011) - on Instructional Support CD and Website "A SEA of Opportunities"

· IEA Student Program Fall Conference: A Collaborative PowerPoint Resource for Chemistry Nov. 20, 2010 (at Doubletree Hotel in Bloomington, IL)

· "Digital Mania" Unit 5 Summer Technology Camp Instructor: PowerPoint, Illini Data, PhotoStory Summer, 2010, 2011, 2012

· Chemistry Methods Students at Illinois State University (Jan. 26, 2010) - on Instructional Support CD and Website

· "Illini Data" Teacher In-Service at Normal Community High School (Jan. 4, 2010) - Normal, IL

· ACS National Chemistry Week - Children's Discovery Museum (Oct. 24, 2009)- Demonstrations

· Moveable Feast Instructor (Summer 2008 -2015) - Expertise: PowerPoint & SharePoint Designer

· Illini Data Instructor (Summer 2009)

· Jeff Christopherson & Joe Jelinek "Integrating Technology into Your Instruction" Teacher In-Service at Normal Community High School (January 7, 2008) - Normal, IL

· Jeff Christopherson "A Collaborative PowerPoint Resource for Chemistry" Illinois Association of Chemistry Teachers (IACT) Annual Meeting (October 5, 2007) - Normal, IL (Illinois State University)

· Jeff Christopherson Taught PDA Class - How to Make An Instuctional Support CD (Summer 2007)

· Jeff Christopherson Titled Instructional Support CD and Collaborative Website Paper ID 1022486 American Chemical Society 233^rd National Meeting (March 26, 2007) - Chicago, IL

· Jeff Christopherson and John Bergmann Titled Interactive and Collaborative WebsiteEnhancing Chemistry Conference - Champaign, IL (March 16, 2007) (University of Illinois)

· Jeff Christopherson Free Instructional Support Chemistry CD Annual High School Chemistry Competition (2006) - Bradley University

· Jeff Christopherson "Instructional Support CD" Illinois Association of Chemistry Teachers (IACT) Annual Meeting (October 6, 2006) - Normal, IL (Illinois State University)

· Jeff Christopherson and Kevin Hodel Titled Interactive and Collaborative Website Science in the South 10^th Annual Conference (March 10, 2006)- Carbondale, IL (Southern Illinois University)
Halloween Article