WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, the National Science Foundation—in consultation with the Department of Education (ED), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)—announced the appointment of K. Renae Pullen, Caddo Public School K-6 science curriculum instructional specialist, to a new advisory panel created to encourage scientific and technological innovations in education.
Established in October 2017, the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Advisory Panel is composed of individuals from nonprofit, business, academic and informal education organizations. The panel will advise the National Science and Technology Council’s Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education on matters related to the nation’s Federal STEM education efforts.
“As a nation, we strive for global competitiveness in STEM fields, and those efforts start in the classroom. Thankfully, America is blessed with talented educators dedicated to growing these fields and shaping the minds of our young people,” said US Rep. Mike Johnson. Ms. Pullen is no exception and has sparked an interest for the sciences for countless young people throughout Caddo Parish for more than 18 years. I am honored to represent her in Congress and more than confident she will bring valuable insights to this panel.”
According to the Caddo Science website, K. Renae Pullen has been an educator in Caddo Parish for more than 18 years. She has taught at Riverside Elementary School and Herndon Magnet School. Pullen also taught undergraduate and graduate students as an adjunct professor for Louisiana Tech University and Louisiana State University in Shreveport. Pullen has a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education from Northwestern State University and a Master of Education in educational leadership from Louisiana State University in Shreveport. She is also certified as a Teacher Leader by the State of Louisiana.
Pullen has served on several local, state and national committees, presented at numerous workshops and conferences, and currently serves as a member of the Teachers’ Advisory Council for the National Academies of Sciences. Pullen has received numerous awards including the Wal-Mart Local Teacher of the Year award in 2007, Caddo Parish Teacher of the Year in 2006, several grants, a Fund for Teachers fellowship to study creativity and STEM in Spain, a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities to study the American Skyscraper in Chicago, Northwest Louisiana Young Professionals Initiative’s 40 Under 40 in 2015, and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching.