Educator Profile    Educators

Dr. Natasha Cooke-Nieves (NY '10)

Senior Specialist in Science and Teacher Education

American Museum of Natural History; Richard Gilder Graduate School
New York, NY

Subject(s) taught: Science Education

At the time of the Award, Dr. Natasha Cooke-Nieves was:


Children First Network 110
New York, NY

Subject(s) taught: Mathematics, Physical Science
Grade(s): K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

https://www.amnh.org/education/mat


Biographical Information

At the time of her award, Dr. Natasha Cooke-Nieves became a Science/Math Instructional Specialist for the Children First Network, a New York City public school initiative designed to integrate operational and instructional support for school networks after ten years of classroom experience teaching science in Brooklyn, NY at PS/MS 282. In this role, Dr. Cooke-Nieves provided professional development and leadership for 25 schools by empowering instructors and administrators with the most effective tools to accelerate student achievement. Her academically rigorous lesson plans engaged and excited students through hands-on, inquiry-based investigations of practical and theoretical scientific concepts. She hosted an annual science fair for her network of schools and spends time off the clock to guide individual students as they prepare their entries.

A National Board Certified science teacher, Dr. Cooke- Nieves provided mentorship for many teachers, both new to the profession and veteran teachers. She consulted regularly with principals to streamline their operations, and assisted teachers with implementing innovative curriculum and good pedagogical techniques. Understanding the important role parents play in fostering academic success, she also developed a Family Science night to educate children and their parents.

Dr. Cooke-Nieves’s work is not limited to primary and secondary education. In the past she has been an adjunct professor at CUNY: Brooklyn College, where she taught elementary science education, biology and chemistry to pre-service and in-service teachers. Her favorite motto, “You learn something new every day!” is evidenced in her graduating with a doctorate in science education from Teachers College, Columbia University in 2011. Currently, she works as a Senior Specialist at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in the Masters of Arts in Teaching program, the first urban teacher residency program offered by a museum. In the 15 month program, a new cohort of fifteen new New York State certified Earth science teachers will enter the profession each year up from only 40 NY teachers in 2004. As a course instructor and clinical supervisor, Dr. Cooke-Nieves feels she is making her own impact in formal and informal science education at the higher education level that will strongly be felt in classrooms throughout the Big Apple for years to come.


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Dr. Natasha Cooke-Nieves In The News

NYSUT members win $25,000 awards for excellence in teaching
NYSUT.org  |  New York State United Teachers  |  Oct 07, 2010  |  Latham, NY

NYC science teacher wins $25,000 award
NYSUT.org  |  New York State United Teachers  |  Oct 07, 2010  |  Latham, NY

Brooklyn Teacher Wins $25K Foundation Award
Brooklyn Daily Eagle  |  Oct 07, 2010  |  New York City, NY

Brooklyn Teacher Receives Top Educator Award
NY1  |  Oct 07, 2010  |  New York City, NY

Additional Information

Degrees/Certifications

Teachers College, Columbia University, Ed.D, 2011 Brooklyn College, City University of New York, MSEd., 2001 Vassar College, B.A., 1996


Publications/Presentations

How Museums, teacher educators, and schools innovate and collaborate to learn and teach Geosciences to everyone


Expertise
Pre-Service Teacher Education; Informal Science Education; Elementary Science

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