2. Megan Bendixen
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in History Education, Minors in Spanish and Political Science
Iowa State University of Science and Technology (ISU), Ames, IA
Education Endorsements: American History, World History, and Political Science
Graduation: December 2011, Magna Cum Laude
Study Abroad: Valencia, Spain
May – July 2009
STUDENT TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Urbandale Middle School – Urbandale, IA: October-December 2011
Cooperating Teacher: Shelly Vanderleest
• Collaborated with cooperating teacher to co-teach a unit on pre-Revolutionary War colonial America
• Employed Web 2.0 technology to facilitate active inquiry and peer review among students
• Developed differentiated instruction to accommodate the learning needs of ESL students, low-level
readers, and students with behavioral disorders
Madrid Sr. High School – Madrid, Iowa: August-October 2011
Cooperating Teacher: James Mertz
• Monitored and adjusted for student learning using frequent formative assessments
• Actively participated in staff professional development seminars
• Developed and taught a long-term series of lessons for U.S. Government that utilized differentiated
instructional strategies
PRACTICUM EXPERIENCE
Waukee Middle School – Waukee, IA: February-April, 2011
Cooperating Teacher: Jennifer Woodley
• Assisted with planning and evaluating summative assessments
• Worked with cooperating teacher and her team of teachers to develop and implement student behavior
intervention strategies
Ames High School – Ames, IA: October-November 2010
Cooperating Teacher: Bob Uetz
• Designed and taught two lessons with differentiated methods to accommodate varied intelligences and
learning modalities
• Utilized effective questioning in large group discussions to engage higher order thinking
• Worked with cooperating teacher to evaluate formative and summative assessments
CAREER EXPERIENCE
Farm House Museum Undergraduate Assistant, University Museums, ISU
Ames, IA; August 2009 – May 2011
• Planned a special event celebrating the house’s 150th anniversary; included maintaining budgets,
coordinating with suppliers, developing educational activities, and carrying out implementation
• Continued my internship project by researching, writing, and designing three additional fact sheets
• Developed museum materials to facilitate learning opportunities for visitors with varying needs,
including translated fact sheets and a photo book featuring non-handicap-accessible rooms
• Curated and installed a semi-permanent exhibit on legislation related to the Farm House’s history
Historical Interpreter Staff, Living History Farms
3. Megan Bendixen
Urbandale, IA; Summers 2009 – 2011
• Involved museum visitors in recreating 19th century activities to provide differentiated, hands-on
learning opportunities for children, teens, and adults
• Provided educational tours for groups of all ages, using varied informational styles to match the age
level and prior knowledge of every group
Lead Color Guard Coach, Johnston High School Marching Band
Johnston, IA, June 2009 – October 2010
• Taught color guard techniques, marching, and choreography to a group of 12-14 high school students
at daily band practices and weekly color guard sectionals
• Collaborated daily with a co-coach, a choreographer, student leaders, and the band director staff
• Developed a budget and coordinated purchasing for performance uniforms and equipment
Tutor, Academic Success Center, ISU
Ames, IA; January 2009 – December 2010
• Assisted eight ISU students in achieving their academic goals by offering guidance and expertise in
three subject areas
• Promoted lifelong learning among my tutoring students by teaching positive academic skills, including
research and writing skills, study skills, and effective goal-setting
Education Intern, University Museums, ISU
Ames, IA; January – May 2009
• Researched, wrote, and designed four original fact sheets about the Farm House Museum, which
remain on display to provide educational materials for all museum visitors
• Assisted with planning a new, annual museum event by generating donations, writing event materials,
and helping with coordination on the day of the event
Historical Interpreter Intern, Living History Farms
Urbandale, IA; May – August 2008
• Provided age-appropriate, educational interpretation of skills and historical facts at three different
museum sites for general visitors and tour groups of all ages
• Collaborated with two other interpreter interns on an in-depth, original research project about natural
and economic disasters in Iowa during the late 19th century
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Crisis Line/Shelter Advocacy Volunteer, Assault Care Center Extending Shelter and Support
(ACCESS)
Ames, IA; Feb 2010 – December 2011
• Provided counseling, advocacy, and referrals to survivors of domestic and sexual violence over a 24-
hour crisis phone line
• Provided positive interaction and advocacy to children who survived domestic and sexual violence
situations and were living in the shelter
• Taught knitting classes to adult survivors of domestic and sexual violence to provide them a hobby, a
tangible skill, and a positive coping mechanism
AWARDS AND HONORS
• Dean’s List; 9 semesters, 2007-2011 • University Honors Program; 6 semesters, 2007-2010
• LAS Study Abroad Scholarship, 2009 • Academic Recognition Award; 8 semesters, 2007-2011
• Phi Beta Kappa Liberal Arts and Sciences
Honor Society, Spring 2011 – Present
4. Megan Bendixen
REFERENCES
James Mertz, Cooperating Teacher, Madrid Sr. High School
Madrid, IA
515-986-4932 (home)
515-238-5947 (cell)
jmertz@madrid.k12.ia.us
Bob Uetz, Cooperating Teacher, Ames High School
Ames, IA
515-817-0600 ext. 2129 (work)
buetz@ames.k12.ia.us
Patrick J. Kearney, Employer, Johnston High School
Johnston, IA
515-278-0449 (work)
pkearney@johnston.k12.ia.us
Nancy Girard, Employer and Supervisor, University Museums
Ames, IA
515-294-3342 (work)
515-450-8309 (cell)
nancyg@iastate.edu
Monica Goedken-Abramowitz, Volunteer Program Coordinator, ACCESS
Ames, IA
515-292-0500 (work)
volunteer@assaultcarecenter.org
For more information on my professional experiences, please visit the following websites.
Online portfolio: sites.google.com/site/mmbendixen
LinkedIn profile: linkedin.com/in/meganbendixen
