Biography

Katherine “Katie” Lodes has been an educator for 34 years. She currently teaches ninth grade Honors Biology, 11-12th grade Advanced Placement Biology, 10-12th grade Independent Research, Zoology, Marine Sciences, and Genetics at St. Joseph’s Academy where she has taught since 2002. Previously, she taught at Incarnate Word Academy for 12 years. Katie's passion is bringing the people and process of science to her students. She has mentored students to present their research at the International Ocean Science and American Geophysical Union conferences. Katie has also worked to bring programs such as the NSF-funded Growing Beyond Earth, Global Ocean-Biogeochemical Arrays, Mutant Millets, Planting Science, and Sci-I programs into her classroom. Her Advanced Placement Biology students have worked with grade schools to bring the ecology of monarch butterflies to life. Katie has presented at several conferences including the National Science Teaching Association, American Geophysical Union, Ocean Sciences, National Marine Educators Association, Missouri Geographic Society, Science Teachers of Missouri, St. Louis’ Darwin Days, and the Arctic Summit Science Week. She has participated in the Education and Research: Testing Hypothesis summer workshops for the past 20 years. In 2023, she took part on a two-week expedition to Japan, the Ryukyu Islands, and Taiwan as part of the Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship. She is a member of both the Polar Educators International Council and the St. Louis Aquarium Foundation's Education Council. Katie earned a B.S. in secondary education and a B.S. in animal science from the University of Missouri at Columbia. She also earned her M.A. in biology at Washington University, St. Louis. She is certified in 7th-12th grade biology.