As an instructional designer for Mizzou Academy, Julie Phelps designs and coordinates Mizzou Elementary, a program designed for elementary teachers that provides online instructional guides with inquiry-based lesson plans and quality resources for in-person, online, and homeschool settings. The interdisciplinary curriculum for kindergarten through fifth grade is made up of courses in English Language Arts, math, science, and social studies. Julie is responsible for guiding a small team of writers, made up of experienced teachers, through the writing process and ensuring that lessons embed age-appropriate instructional strategies and quality materials that encourage critical thinking and 21st century skills while being engaging and matched with learning objectives, Missouri Learning Standards, and strong essential questions.

Prior to Mizzou Academy, Julie was an instructional designer for Missouri University of Science & Technology assisting faculty from all departments in designing or redesigning courses to incorporate best teaching practices and technology for in-person, online, and blended delivery. During her nine years at Missouri S&T, Julie planned and conducted numerous professional development workshops for faculty; presented at regional, state, and national conferences; collaborated with faculty on publications; and was the program lead for a small office of instructional designers, technologists, and developers.

Julie spent another nine years working for the University of Missouri System as an instructional specialist for eMINTS (enhancing Missouri’s Instructional Networked Teaching Strategies). She traveled to numerous schools modeling lessons, coaching, and consulting with eMINTS teachers and provided over 250 hours of professional development on pedagogy and technology use each year to K-12 teachers and trainers in grant-funded high-tech classrooms throughout southwest Missouri.

Before her 20 years with the University of Missouri, Julie spent 17 years teaching elementary grades from the special education classroom to the gifted program, from preschool through sixth grade in Missouri, Colorado, and Texas.

Degrees & Certifications:

• M.A. Information & Learning Technologies for K-12 Teachers, University of Colorado, Denver
• B.S. Education: Early Childhood (PK-3) Elementary (1-8), University of Missouri, Columbia
• Teaching Certification Missouri & Texas (PK-8): Lifetime
• Cognitive Coaching: 2010 (Columbia, MO), 1997 (Golden, CO)
• Quality Matters: October 2010 (online)

Areas of Expertise

• Curriculum in elementary education
• Inquiry-based learning
• STEM education
• Technology in education
• Online & blended course design
• Facilitating professional development