Thomas Custer

12807 Folly Quarter Rd.

Ellicott City, MD 21042

Home: 410.531.2380   Cell: 443.413.5409      Email: tcuster@aol.com

 

EDUCATIONAL BACKROUND:

 

Doctorate in Science Curriculum and Instruction: University of Maryland

Graduate Certificate in Administration and Supervision: Loyola College

Graduate Study in Science: American University

M.S. in Science Education: Morgan State University

B.S., Natural Science: Towson State University

 

EXPERIENCE:

 

            Educational Consultant: It’s About Time/Herff Jones; 2007-

 

           

Working with key decision makers in the central offices of curriculum and instruction in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, Carribean School Districts, Department of Defense Schools and the District of Columbia, I am responsible for increasing revenue for IAT/Herff Jones’s curriculular products, assessment and staff development science programs.

 

 

 

Regional Sales Manager: Delta Education; 2005-2007

 

Working with key decision makers in the central offices of curriculum and instruction in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, I am responsible for increasing revenue for FOSS, a complete curriculum, assessment and staff development science program.

 

Director of Science: District of Columbia Public School System; 2004-2005

 

Responsible for implementing a new science standards program, designing new science laboratory facilities, staff development and preparing for the 2007 No Child Left Behind assessments.

 

Northeast Regional Sales Manager: Fisher Science Education; 2002- 2004

 

Managed a team of outside and inside sales representatives to increase revenue from the sale of K-12 science materials and equipment and provided technical training programs to staff and customers for equipment utilization.

 

Science Education Sales: Fisher Science Education; 2000-2002

 

Awarded Fisher Science Education’s”2002 Salesman of the Year” in recognition of 337% sales growth for 2002. Sales increased in MD from $37,000 in ’98 to $478,000 in ’02. Territory sales over same period grew from $300,000 to $1.8 million.

 

Technical Assistant: Maryland State Department of Education, Office of Reconstitution Eligible Schools; 1998-2000

 

Science Education Consultant/ Faculty: Fisher Science Education; 1998-2000

 

 

 

Coordinator of Science: 1980-1998

Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Annapolis, MD

 

Professor, Adjunct: 1990-Present

Johns Hopkins University (1990-1997)
     Loyola, Baltimore (1992-1998)
     Goucher College (1998-Present)

 

Creator/Director: 1990-1998

Carrie Weedon Science Museum

Developed a center for teacher training and a fieldtrip site for students.

 

Department Chairperson/Advanced Placement Chemistry Instructor/Physics Instructor/ General Sciences Instructor: 1970-1980

Anne Arundel County Public Schools, MD

Baltimore City Public Schools, MD

 

 

 

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS:

 

Teacher Training Programs

Laboratory Design

Technology Applications

Laboratory Safety                                                                                                                                                                                                        

RECENT PROJECTS:

 

Expand the use of FOSS products in the four state territory

Develop the infrastructure of the science office of DCPS

Develop performance assessments that reinforce the National Standards.

Implement a materials kit program to increase hands-on-activities.

Implement hand-held data collection in grades K-12

Infuse biotechnology into grades 4-12

  

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:

 

Maryland Science Supervisors Association: President; Executive Board

National Science Teacher’s Association

Maryland Association of Science Teachers

Maryland Association of Biology Teachers

National Science Supervisors Association

Maryland Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development

Maryland Association of Teacher Educators

 

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS:

 

 NSTA National Convention; “Hand Held Data Collectors for Motivating Students”2003

NABT National Convention; ”Easy Gel-Electrophoresis Make AP Bio Lab a Snap”2003

NSTA National Convention; ”Easy Gel-Electrophoresis Make AP Bio Lab a Snap” 2002

NSTA National Convention; “Easy Chemical Demonstrations” 2001

 NSTA National Convention; “Connection Between Instruction and Assessment” 2000

NSTA National Convention; “Developing A Culture Center Which Reinforces the National Standards” 1997

NSTA National Conventions; “How a School System Can Improve Science Instruction” 1996

NSTA National Conventions; “The Care and Grooming of Science Teachers” 1995

NSTA International Conference; “The Care and Grooming of Science Teachers” 1995

NSTA National Convention; “Multi-dimensional Science Performance Assessment” 1994

NSTA National Convention; “Training Science Teachers for a Diverse Population” – 1993

NSTA National Convention; “Involving the Community in Implementing Benchmarks” 1992

 

MOST RECENT PUBLICATION:

The Science Teacher, Washington, D.C.; “A K-12 Certification/Upgrade Model for Addressing the Shortage of Certified Science Teachers”