Marvin H Allen
marvin.h.allen@gmail.com
Education:
M.S. in Biology, Washington University in St. Louis 2019
Concentrations: Biology, Education
Capstone Project: Citizen Science: Using Authentic Science Projects to Increase High School Students’ Participation, Engagement, and Interest in Science Outside of the Classroom
Graduate Certificate in Physics, University of Missouri Columbia 2013
Concentration: 10 graduate credits in Physics, 2 credits in Educational Leadership
B.S. in Biology, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 2008
Concentration: Biology, Secondary Teaching Certificate
Certification:
Illinois Professional Educators License
Endorsements in high school biology, chemistry, physics, and earth/space science
Endorsements in middle school biological, physical, and general science
Missouri Career Continuous Professional License
Endorsements in biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science
Endorsement in middle school science
Professional Experience:
Science Teacher 2017 – Present
Edwardsville High School
- Participated in a three-year long curriculum review that includes incorporation of Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards, where I was the lead teacher in biology, physics, and earth and space science courses
- Teach a variety of science subjects including physics, earth and space science, biology, earth science, physical science, and environmental science.
- Awarded a CAC grant for the purchase and implementation of new photosynthesis curriculum
- Coach of EHS science Olympiad team
Adjunct Instructor 2025 – Present
St. Louis Community College – Meramec Campus
Teaching Biology 111 – Introductory Biology
Illinois Physics and Secondary Schools Fellow 2023 – Present
University of Illinois Champaign Urbana
- Participate in and lead sessions at University of Illinois for secondary physics teachers
- Participate in and lead discussions remotely throughout the school year with other physics teachers
- Implemented university laboratory experiments and learning exercises into physics and honors physics curriculum at Edwardsville High School
Illinois Science Assessment Writer and Grader 2022 – 2023
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
- Graded the high school section of the Illinois Science Assessment (ISA)
- Reviewed questions for alignment with the Next Generation Science Standards
- Developed questions for the high school section of the ISA
- Developed cut-scores and performance level descriptors for the ISA
Youth Led Citizen Science Program 2021 – 2022
The Stem Center at SIUE
- Led youth in Madison, Illinois in creating and investigating their own citizen science projects around environmental health
- Led both in person summer sessions and remote school year sessions
- Developed lesson plans for the project and participated in leading sessions
Digital East St. Louis 2015 – 2018
The Stem Center at SIUE
- Taught digital humanities including podcasting, film making, computer programing, website design, and development
- Designed the environmental justice program where students collected pollution data throughout their city, analyzed the results, and published the data in a digital format
Science Teacher 2014 – 2017
Southwestern High School
- Participated in a yearlong curriculum review that included incorporation of Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards
- Over the course of three years I taught biology and astronomy
- Developed and implemented the new earth and space science curriculum to meet the new Illinois learning standards
- Awarded a 25,000-dollar Monsanto grant for the purchase of Vernier equipment
Science Teacher 2010 – 2014
Lift for Life Academy – Department Chair
- Led middle and high school teachers in a yearlong curriculum review that included incorporation of Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards
- Participated in A TIME for Physics First, modeling physics curriculum workshops for 4 weeks over the course of three summers at University of Missouri
- Participated in leadership training throughout the school year for two years through University of Missouri.
- Participated in a yearlong inquiry workshop and professional development through Washington University’s Institute for School Partnership
- Taught Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science, and helped design a middle school MAP test prep course.
- Through the adaptation of physics first and helping to build the Biology Curriculum, Raised proficiency rates on the Biology End of Course Exam from 9% to 42%
- Presented for the last three years at the annual Science Teachers of Missouri Conference, twice showing modeling methodology and once on a 6-12 solar energy curriculum that my department designed.
Science Teacher 2009 – 2010
Madison Community Unit School District 12
- Teaching freshmen and sophomore BSCS biology and freshmen integrated science
Grants Received:
- Merck KGaA Smarter, Together Grant in conjunction with Donors Choose 2016
- 2,000-dollar grant used to purchase vernier technology to aid in the teaching of biology and earth science at Southwestern High School
- Monsanto Growing Rural Education 2016
- 25,000-dollar grant used to purchase vernier technology to aid in the teaching of science at Southwestern High School
- Citizens Advisory Council STEM grant 2017
- 1,000-dollar grant used to purchase equipment to construct dye sensitized solar cells to aid the teaching of photosynthesis at Edwardsville High School
- Citizens Advisory Council STEM grant 2024
- 3,000-dollar grant used to purchase 3d printer, cricut cutting machine, Arduino kits for the formation of Edwardsville High School Makerspace
Professional Memberships:
National Science Teaching Association
American Association of Physics Teachers
Glen Ed Science 