STEM Integration: By Renee Peddie

PLTW Master Teacher – Renee Peddie is an unconventional second grade teacher at Mars Elementary School in the Berrien Springs Public School District, located in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She has over 20 years of experience working with children in various roles and settings. Renee has served her community as a social worker, a second grade teacher, PTO president and vice president (at her children’s schools), and has chaired countless committees in her school and at her church. Renee is celebrating her fourth year as a PLTW Master Teacher and is certified to teach elementary education, ELA and science. This is her sixth year teaching second grade in Berrien Springs. She has successfully integrated all content areas of the CCSS into her STEM classroom, while implementing flexible seating. She enjoys thinking outside the box and often challenges the status quo. Renee and her husband planted a church over two decades ago and Renee continues to be very active in that capacity. She has been the Director of Children’s Ministry since the church’s inception. Her passion for educating children extends far beyond her classroom and her school. Renee’s newest venture includes writing two children’s books, which she is hoping to publish in 2019. She has also established a nonprofit called STEM4Them. This provides at-risk children in foster care an opportunity to design, explore, and build through monthly STEM Saturdays. Her week-long, summer event is intended to match eligible children with forever families. Renee graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She lives in Stevensville with her husband and their 3 children. When Renee is not working, she likes to travel, cook, garden, or do home improvement projects. Renee Peddie can be reached at renee@stem4them.life.