Aida Awad

Aida Awad is an Adjunct Professor at AIU and Broward College where she teaches Earth Science, Environmental Science, and Oceanography. She is an Educational Consultant, an Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow (2016-17 U.S. Department of Energy), a STEM Education Specialist, the divisional team challenge coordinator for the U.S. Dept. of Energy National Science Bowl, and an administrator academy developer and presenter for the IL Principals’ Association. Aida is the NAGT representative to the NGSS-ESS Working Group, which produces a monthly webinar series on NGSS-ESS implementation and resources. She’s a former high school administrator, Google Certified Trainer, long time science teacher, and geologist. She is passionate about working to build bridges between scientists/researchers/industry and the classroom that ignite student passions for learning and make a difference, and about developing curriculum that deeply engages students in learning activities. Her skills and engagement with educational technology integration and teacher training continue to forge change in learning experiences for students.

Aida was the Science Department Chair at Maine East High School in Park Ridge, IL for thirteen years, after teaching Earth Science, Geology, Chemistry and Physics at Maine West High School for nine years. Aida served as an adjunct instructor at Oakton Community College, teaching dual credit Physical Geology courses, and as an adjunct instructor at Aurora University, teaching courses in educational technology integration.

Aida is Past President and past Secretary/Treasurer of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT). She was a co-convener of the Summit on the Implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in the Earth and Space Sciences, and a presenter at the Geological Sciences of America (GSA) Annual Meeting, the American Geophysical Union (AGU) GIFT workshop, and the AGU Fall meeting. Aida is an annual Spotlight Speaker at the Midwest Google Summit, presenting on educational technology integration and on integrating geospatial tools into the K-12 classroom. Aida leads Climate Change and Sustainability teacher workshops for Northwestern University’s Office of Community Education Partnerships, developed curriculum for the Watershed Dynamics and MyWorld GIS programs, and was a member of the Interdisciplinary Teaching about Earth for a Sustainable Future (InTeGrate) Assessment Team.

Aida received her Bachelor of Science degree in Geological Science from the University of Illinois Chicago, and her Master’s degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences from the University of Illinois Chicago. Aida was named as a Fellow of the Geological Society of America in 2016.

aawad@tothecloudedu.com