Availability:

Monday-Friday daytime and evening

Phone Number:

Please email me to schedule time to connect or use my appointment calendar for "Connect Time" in your online course.

Teacher Bio:

My name is Jeanine Gelhaus and I’m a science geek. I currently teach 6th-8th grade science for WVS. I also am an Adjunct Faculty Instructor, in the area of Natural Science and Environmental Science, at SNHU for the College of Online and Continuing Education. I’ve worked in the field of education since 1995. I received both my B.S. in Education and my M.S. in Natural Resources/Environmental Education from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. I also earned my National Boards in the area of Early Adolescent Science in 2001. I taught middle-level science (Earth/Space, Chemistry, Environmental, Life, and Physical Science) for 25 years. I also taught various environmental science courses, as an adjunct faculty member, for several state universities for over 21 years. My goal as an educator is to inspire my students to be problem-solvers and life-long learners, and to be passionate about their school journeys and future careers.

Just a couple of highlights from my career. I earned the highest award possible for a teacher in the area of science: The Presidential Award for Excellence in Science. As part of the award ceremony, I was invited to Washington, D.C., where I spent a week meeting people in The White House, Congressmen/women on Capitol Hill, scientists from the National Science Foundation, and people involved with the U.S. State Department. The "Teacher Ambassador Fellowship" was a one-year fellowship I was awarded through the U.S. Department of Education. I continue to work as a consultant for that agency by reviewing projects, grants, and materials. I served as a NASA Solar System Educator for NASA's JPL and also read grants for NASA in the area of STEM. It was also my pleasure to have worked for 3 summers with National Geographic Society (NGS) on environmental curriculum. I earned the NGS distinguished Golden Apple Award for my teaching and curriculum work. I have been awarded two Fulbright Fellowships which have taken me to Japan and South Africa. I co-wrote a grant with Ford Motor Company, Earthwatch, and UW-Madison to take 12 teachers to a remote location in the Pantanal where we worked on field research skills. (The Pantanal is on the edge of the Amazon River in Brazil).   

I have been fortunate to have traveled (for work or pleasure) to many countries. I enjoyed meeting the people who lived in those places. Choosing my favorites is hard, but if I had to, they would include Ireland, Italy, South Africa, Brazil, Japan, Switzerland, and Russia. On a more local level, I have earned numerous state-level awards here in Wisconsin in the area of STEM, environmental education, middle-level science, elementary-level science teaching, and the Senator Herb Kohl Excellence in Teaching Award. As you can see, I am a "science geek" and love it. 

On a personal note, my husband and I have 5 children and 8 grandchildren. We enjoy spending our free time with family. My motto is, “FAMILY FIRST.” I love to camp, hike, travel, fish, kayak, and take photographs. I enjoy trying to capture the different hues of the sunsets and the muted tones of the rocks. Just sitting by the fire with a cup of warm coffee soothes me. While hiking, I enjoy listening to the smallest sounds, like a branch creaking in the wind or the sound of my snowshoes crunching through the crusty snow. I also love dogs, and I am sad to say that our old boy (a 19-year-old border collie) recently passed away. It broke my heart into a million pieces. We still miss him 

My hope is that I will inspire you as you travel through this course with me. Please let me know if there is anything you need help with.

Subjects and Grade Levels taught:

Science (6-8)

Wisconsin Teacher Licensure:

Elementary Education 1-8
Environmental Science 1-9