Karen Scales is the Division Chair for Global English Language Arts at Mizzou Academy. She graduated from the University of Missouri in 1994 and has been an online and blended educator with Mizzou ever since. In addition to teaching, she is a proud mom and a fierce advocate for pit bull rescue and inclusion in the arts. She currently lives and works in St. Charles, Missouri.

Ms. Scales leads AP English Literature and Composition, AP English Language and Composition, 10th Grade English, Information Literacy, and Creative Writing.

Ms. Scales’ current projects include in a complete rewrite of our Information Literacy course—with a focus on empowerment and integrity in the frontiers of social media and artificial intelligence—and the development of a Creative Writing suite of courses for poetry and screenwriting, in addition to our current short fiction writing course. She is also an active member of the Mizzou Academy leadership team, a co-author on our inaugural position paper series, and a contributing editor for school publications, communications, and special projects.

Ms. Scales is in her 30th year of teaching and holds a lifetime certification in secondary English education. She is a passionate advocate for student-centered, strengths-based online learning.

Degrees and Certifications:

• BS.Ed. University of Missouri
• Missouri Career Teaching Certificate: English/Language Arts (9-12)
• College Board Certificate: Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition

Areas of Expertise

• Curriculum development and alignment
• Online and blended teaching strategies
• Student writing strategies and support
• Team-building and collaboration