District K – 12 Science Curriculum Specialist

Ann Butcher
Ann Butcher is a product of West Aurora School District #129. Ann completed her Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Psychology from Aurora University. She completed her Masters of Science Degree in Curriculum and Supervision and her Type 75 Supervisory Endorsement from Northern Illinois University and following that her Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with her dissertation research in the area Gifted Education, Science, and Mathematics in the Elementary School at Aurora University. Ann has taught at the primary and intermediate levels serving in West Aurora 12 years at Nicholson and the last 7 years at Fearn Elementary. She has served as Grade Level Chair, Head Science Coach, Elementary Science Curriculum Tri-Chair, and Building Gifted Coordinator. For the past 13 years has been the Director of the Packer Foundation Scholars Program offering courses to gifted and talented PreK – 8th graders three times a year. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Aurora University instructing “Methods of Teaching Math and Science in the Elementary School” and serving on the Illinois Math and Science Partnership Grant advisory panel as well as other local advisory groups such at SciTech and Fox Valley Park District Special Projects.

Science Tri-Chairs

Mike Runge: High School Science Chair
Mike Runge has been the Science Department Chair at West Aurora High School for the past ten years. He received his BA in Physics with a minor Education from Illinois Wesleyan in 1992 and his MA in Educational Leadership from Aurora University in 1999.