Contributors and Collaborators

We work with a variety of expert contributors and collaborators to build our curriculum so it is customized and fully aligns with your state standards.

A Sample of our Contributors and Collaborators

Dr. John Lee

CO-AUTHOR OF THE C3 FRAMEWORK

Dr. John Lee is the co-author of the College, Career and Civic Life Framework for Standards in Social Studies, also known as the C3 Framework. Lee and his team developed the Inquiry Design Model (IDM) that Studies Weekly curriculum is based on.

He has authored or co-authored several books books including: Inquiry-Based Practice in Social Studies Education: Understanding the Inquiry Design Model, and Inquiry Design Model: Building Inquiries in Social Studies, and Teaching the C3 Framework; Visualizing Elementary Social Studies Methods.

He co-founded the C3 Teachers initiative. The C3 Teacher initiative is guided by John Lee (North Carolina State University), Kathy Swan (University of Kentucky), and SG Grant (Binghamton University). John, Kathy, and SG have worked as leaders and writers in the C3 Framework project and know first hand the critical role teachers play in the implementation and realization of the C3 goals and aspirations. Their work extends beyond the C3 into teacher education and preparing new teachers to tackle the challenges of teaching social studies in the 21st Century.

Lavora ``Gayle`` Gadison

SOCIAL STUDIES CONTENT MANAGER, CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT

Reviewed the Ohio Social Studies content for standard support and biased stereotypes

Studies Weekly is an excellent resource. I love the format because it is colorful and supports the various learning styles of young scholars. The text is focused, and the content is chunked, and so, not overpowering.

Studies Weekly doesn’t assume to know what’s best for teachers but uses their input to create a resource that is very user-friendly.

John Lee

CO-AUTHOR OF THE C3 FRAMEWORK AND THE INQUIRY DESIGN MODEL

Social studies is about what it means to be human, about why we do the crazy things we do, and how to make sense of it. Give kids time to, as Dewey says, wrestle with it. To sit with it and deal with it in their own space.

Social studies teachers are on the front line of creating safe spaces where kids can have differing arguments that they can discuss and back up. We’re teaching them how to be in a democracy.

Stephanie Weiler

GIFTED EDUCATION TEACHER, NC

I love Studies Weekly and think the student products are very engaging. I love how the weeks build on each other, but can be used with maximum flexibility.

Studies Weekly is an amazing resource for classroom teachers to teach social studies in an engaging, consumable format.

Fitting social studies in to our packed days is so hard, and Studies Weekly’s format allows children to get the content they need and think critically and creatively while taking the weight off teachers’ shoulders. I also love how more of the grade levels are incorporating inquiry skills.

Tiffany Besse

DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT, PARKWAY SCHOOL DISTRICT, MO

Studies Weekly provides unique and engaging teaching and learning experiences for teachers, students and families. Their commitment to standards-based curriculum development, instructional design, and pedagogy allows for students to be their authentic self as they learn and grow academically, civically, and emotionally.

The power of Studies Weekly to grow and develop teachers instructionally is second to none.

Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Poarch, AL

Kristin Hellmich - Poarch Band of Creek Indians

DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY & MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Studies Weekly has been very receptive to helping accurately tell the story of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians from our Tribe’s perspective. Their team has worked with us side by side to thoughtfully capture the hurdles we’ve overcome and explain ways we’ve prospered. We are delighted for the opportunity to partner with Studies Weekly and continue sharing our story with students and teachers.

Noah Jenkins

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR, CA

I’ve really enjoyed the Health & Wellness topics I’ve seen so far. Having tools to navigate difficult emotions and situations is a useful skill for young people to have, so I’m glad it’s included in the curriculum.

I also appreciate the effort to be sensitive to more marginalized communities. I can see the genuine thought and care that people have put into building more inclusive lesson plans and I think it will really resonate with the students, as well as teachers.

I think any school curriculum has the power to help shape how young people view the world and people around them, so it’s been fulfilling being able to review and build with everyone I’ve worked with so far.

Overall, I think Studies Weekly is taking great steps to bringing educational content to youth that is both informative and culturally-responsible.

Catie Nelson

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR/EDUCATOR, WA

This curriculum is full of powerful information, activities, stories, and discussions that assist students in learning to care for their own well-being. Some of the topics may seem intuitive or natural, but explicit instruction can help children gain deeper and clearer understanding of safeguarding their health and well-being. Every skill taught throughout this curriculum benefits children as they grow and mature.

As teachers implement this curriculum in their classrooms and help their students apply the information, students will be more prepared to cope with emotions, conflict, and change. Being a teacher myself, I feel that every teacher should be teaching the important themes found in this product.

The lessons associated with the articles are packed full of deep thinking prompt and activities. The articles themselves are written tactfully and teach complex concepts in simple, age-appropriate ways. This is an amazing product!

Kimberly Fallon

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR/CURRICULUM WRITER, IN

It is creative, hands-on, and engaging. It is student-centered with a great deal of teacher support and resources as well. It seems to be intentionally designed with best practice in mind.

I’m proud to have been a part of designing the curriculum and can’t help but wish my own kids had gotten to experience it in their classrooms.

Bristol Wenzl

ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL, WEEPING WATER PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NE

Weeping Water Public Schools has been very happy with the implementation of Studies Weekly – both science and social studies. When we were looking into science and social studies resources, teachers didn’t feel they could take another super heavy curriculum with big manuals and boxes of materials.

Studies Weekly has been a perfect fit for us. Teachers appreciate how Studies Weekly is organized by themes. They love the consumables and how hands on Studies Weekly is. Teachers also like the online resources. They appreciate the flexibility and all that it has to offer. It is very user friendly and teachers can differentiate instruction easily. Studies Weekly aligns to our state standards.

The customer service is amazing. We are teaching more science and social studies than we have ever before. Students love Studies Weekly because it is engaging. They like getting their own consumable that they can write on and keep. I highly recommend Studies Weekly.

Jefferson Clark

ELEMENTARY COUNSELING SPECIALIST, ALPINE SCHOOL DISTRICT, UT

The curriculum is not only amazing but essential! It provides a wealth of resources for teachers and students to learn critical wellness and regulation skills.

Burgundy Heiner

ENTREPRENEUR AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT COACH, UT

Such a great resource for kids to use and learn topics that are so important in helping them learn how to grow and develop in their own personal lives. This curriculum can assist children in their lives to help them become good humans with solid foundations of great principles and values.

Brent Chowen

PROFESSOR, BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY

The materials were grade appropriate and had a wide range of approaches to help all students.

Dennis Johnson

TEACHER, PORT ARTHUR ISD, TX

Consulted the curriculum team

I think that it is a robust product that will be a great asset for districts that utilize the product.

Katie Schnabel

CURRICULUM SPECIALIST, IL

Collaborated with Studies Weekly curriculum specialists and provided feedback on the curriculum as it was being built.

I think that this curriculum is a fun, engaging, and hands-on way to learn science.

Lauren Montgomery

CURRICULUM WRITER, WA

Collaborated with Studies Weekly curriculum specialists.

The curriculum is great! I wish I had something this comprehensive when I was teaching.

Lauren Ficklin

CURRICULUM CONTRACTOR, UT

Collaborated with Studies Weekly curriculum specialists and consulted for the curriculum team.

It’s amazing! It really hits everything that Texas wanted while also giving so much Texas-specific content.

Darlene Griffin

DIGITAL CURRICULUM MANAGER, FL

Wrote 3rd-5th grade passages aligned to Science standards and assessment items aligned to Reading standards.

The curriculum is written in a fair and inclusive manner. It is engaging, rigorous, and enables students to acquire and develop the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful and critical thinkers.

Ilyse Negrin

CURRICULUM WRITER, NJ

Collaborated with Studies Weekly curriculum specialists.

Studies Weekly curriculum is student-driven and very engaging.

Melanie Watson

SOCIAL STUDIES COORDINATOR 6-12, HOUSTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, GA

Consulted curriculum team.

I really like the curriculum! From the pieces that I was able to preview, it seems to be very good aligned to our state standards. I like the inclusion of elements of the C3 Framework.

John Krenek

DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION, OAK CREEK FRANKLIN SCHOOL DISTRICT, WI

Provided feedback on the curriculum as it was being built and reviewed it.

Aligned to the WI social standards, easy to navigate, Inquiry focused, and engages students.

Casey Hurstell

CURRICULUM WRITER, GA

Collaborated with Studies Weekly curriculum specialists.

Studies Weekly’s science curriculum is everything I always looked for as a teacher. It’s engaging for the students, easy to implement, and three-dimensional.

Vanessa Ellis

8TH GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER, 2022-23 MCDS TEACHER OF THE YEAR, GA

Provided feedback on the curriculum as it was being built.

The curriculum provided by Studies Weekly is built with the students and teachers and mind. It includes easy-to-follow plans, high-order thinking activities, and access to primary and secondary sources.

Shauna Pierce

INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN FACILITATOR – SCIENCE CURRICULUM, GARLAND ISD, TX

Assessed science content, helped create resources that would be used in addition to the curriculum, and consulted curriculum team.

Studies Weekly Science is wonderful! Science content is rich and engaging.

Brooke Burns

ASSISTANT CAMPUS DIRECTOR, TX

I only have experience with the 4th grade Studies Weekly Curriculum. The content within this curriculum is truthful and stellar. It keeps learning within the 4th grade classroom consistent. It is aligned with our Texas TEKS, and it provides teachers with the skills they need for teaching critical thinkers, and creative learners. The short constructed response questions on the weekly assessments, provide students with weekly practice to better prepare them for our state assessment.

Team Leads

Noelle Carter

Chief Curriculum Architect

Dr. Noelle Carter is Studies Weekly’s Chief Curriculum Architect, and has more than 20 years of experience in digital education, both in teaching courses and developing digital courseware in reading, language, literacy, Spanish, and math.

Dr. Carter has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Brigham Young University with a library endorsement from the University of Montana, a master’s degree in writing, and a doctorate in cross-cultural education from the University of Alaska–Fairbanks.

Clayton Chamberlain

Chief Science Curriculum Architect

Clayton Chamberlain is Studies Weekly’s Chief Science Curriculum Architect, and has 12 years experience developing science curriculum, including: educational videos, simulations, online interactivities, and more than 60 print and digital educational products.

Clayton holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in science, with a second master’s degree in instructional technology. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction at Utah State University.

Kelly Jeffery

ELA Curriculum Director

Kelly Jeffery is ELA Curriculum Director for Studies Weekly. She has 20 years of teaching experience, both as a teacher and as an instructional coach. She has degrees in both elementary education and educational psychology. She has experience as an Acadience Mentor trainer and in Reading Recovery.

Kelly is absolutely passionate about literacy, and loves the way integrated learning can promote it.

Larissa Chase

Senior Well-Being Curriculum Specialist

Larissa Chase is the Senior Well-Being Curriculum Specialist at Studies Weekly. After spending time in the classroom as a social studies teacher, Larissa moved into educational counseling. Larissa has worked in education for 19 years, as teacher, educational counselor, and athletic coach.

She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and secondary education with a social studies education emphasis, and a master’s degree in educational psychology with an emphasis in school counseling.

See the Results of Their Efforts!