Educational Consultant,
Pioneer RESA STEM Teacher Certification Coach,
NISE Educational Consultant, NDPC
Dr. Sandy Bales graduated from North Georgia College (currently University of North Georgia) in Dahlonega, Georgia, with a BS in Chemistry. She completed a Master of Science in Secondary Science Education at the University of Georgia and was awarded a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership with a focus on the curriculum from Nova Southeastern University in Miami, Florida.
Dr. Bales began her career teaching secondary level physical science courses. While in the classroom, she wrote and facilitated a senior-level chemistry course based on active learning to drive students’ continuous growth and independence. The success of that early work continues to inspire Dr. Bales’ work today in leading teachers in their STEM strategies instructional growth.
Dr. Bales also served as a high school administrator before transitioning to a Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) as a consultant and school improvement specialist to fourteen traditional and one non-traditional school systems. She has worked with several Mathematics Science Partnership (MSP) grants, including writing, implementation, and evaluation. She has written and evaluated multiple 21st Century Afterschool Program grants and currently provides grant review services for the Pioneer RESA districts in Georgia.
In addition, Dr. Bales has written and implemented multiple endorsement programs— K-5 Mathematics, K-5 Science, and STEM Education— and provided science and mathematics professional learning for K-12 mathematics and science educators. She currently serves as a Pioneer RESA Mathematics Mentor and works through the Georgia Office of School Improvement as Program Manager for the School Improvement Resources Initiative (SIRI). In this role, Dr. Bales leads the development of a professional learning inventory that will be available for all Georgia RESA consultants to use as they work with districts and schools statewide. She has completed a National Institute for STEM Education (NISE) STEM Certification Program and currently serves as a NISE STEM Certification Coach. Responsibilities with NISE also include professional learning development. Dr. Bales works extensively with the National Dropout Prevention Center Program Assessment and Review (PAR) process to provide guidance in improving the graduation rate based on the research- and evidence-based 15 Effective Strategies for Dropout Prevention.