Biography
Kathleen Scavone
Biography
I was an educator for 24 years, in Middletown, California. Through teaching I have made many valuable discoveries, right along with my students.
I grew up in Anaheim, California. I spent every summer at the beach! Newport, Huntington and San Clemente were my favorite beaches, even though I nearly drowned one year. (I was a strong swimmer, but was caught in a riptide.)
I have resided in Lake County, California for over 40 years, where I freelance write and make stoneware pottery on the wheel.
I earned my B.A. degree from Sonoma State University in Liberal Studies, and teaching credential and M.A. degree from Dominican College, San Rafael in Curriculum and Instruction. I was selected Lake County Teacher of the Year for 1998-99, which was a great honor and very exciting. I was one of 10 finalists selected as California State Teacher of the Year then.
I was involved in NASA's programs through my volunteer work with NASA and JPL. when I was a "Solar System Ambassador". I set up whole-school assemblies and teacher in-services with NASA. My class corresponded with NASA scientists via e-mail and studied our country's national treasures- the Moon Rocks and Meteorites in the classroom.
Education:
M.A., Curriculum and Instruction
Dominican College, San Rafael, CA
Multiple Subject Credential
Dominican College, San Rafael, CA
B.A., Liberal Studies
Sonoma State University, CA
A.A. Degree
Yuba College, CA Lower Lake Campus
Employment:
Freelance Writer - Napa Valley Features: June 2023 to present.
Freelance Writer - Santa Rosa Press Democrat: December 2020 to present.
Columnist - Napa Valley Register newspaper: Napa Valley's Living Landscape, May 7, 2018 to March, 2023.
Columnist - Lake County Bloom
Columnist - News From Native California: Co-writer for Ethnobotany column.
Columnist - Lake County News: The Living Landscape and Lake County Time Capsule, 2014 to December 2020.
Potter: Stoneware, wheel-thrown pottery. My pottery is sold in the Gibson Museum and Cultural Center, Middletown Art Center, Twin Pines Casino, Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum, Mountain High Coffee and Books Cobb Store, Courthouse Museum, Fore Family Vineyards and Tasting Room, A + H General Store, Maker, LakeWorks, Sharpsteen's Museum, Studio Kokomo, Grace Hudson Museum, Dolphin Gallery, Sonoma Valley Museum of Art.
Writer: Middletown Times Star, Clear Lake Observer
Teacher: Middletown Unified School District, Middletown, CA- Grades 4&5, 1992-2016.
Substitute Teacher: Lake County 1991-92.
Guenoc Winery: Hospitality Coordinator- Middletown, CA 1986-88.
Instructional Aide: Minnie Cannon School- Middletown, CA 1985-91.
Pottery Production, Sales and Lessons: Make stoneware Pottery on the wheel and sell under Abracadabra Pottery name in Lake and Napa Counties. Pottery Lessons at “R and R Ceramics”, Lower Lake, CA 1985-99.
Published Writing and Related Activities:
KQED Radio - I wrote an essay entitled, "Wonder" which played on the Perspectives show December 30, 2008.
I have written the following books:
- Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora and Fauna Tour of a California State Park.
- People of the Water- a juvenile novella of the events leading to the Bloody Island Massacre of 1850
- Native Americans of Lake County, California
- Lake County Poetry
More Writing:
I write for the Lake County, CA Historical Society.
I wrote curriculum for Lake County, CA elementary schools to accompany the Emmy Award Winning DVD called A Walk Through Time, about Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.
The Education Center- I am a writer for their teaching magazines and books, such as The Mailbox and Learning. Co-written the following Education Center books: The Earth – Curriculum-Based Hands-On Activities, Science in a Box Grades 4-6, Power Practice Language Arts Grades 4-6, Cornerstones of Comprehension Grade 4, Cornerstones of Comprehension Grade5.
NASA Cultures of the Imagination (COTI) Curriculum- I was invited by NASA Ames scientist, Dr. Chris McKay to write curriculum for Cultures of the Imagination, or COTI, a cross-disciplinary study for grades K-12. The other teacher/writers also involved and I were featured on the Sci-Fi Station TV show, “Inside Space”.
Essay published in the book, On to Mars 2 Exploring and Settling a New World, Apogee Books, essay entitled: "The Sacred Depths of the Universe- The Case for Space".
Listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers 2004-2005.
Included in Laura Woodmansee’s book, Women of Space, published by Apogee Books.
“California: A Changing State” Play- I wrote and compiled a one hour children’s history play for my students to perform for grades 3-6. The living history vignettes helped students understand California history in a lively and interesting way. The play is available at the Lake County Office of Education to be distributed to other teachers.
NASA/ JPL Solar System Ambassador:
I volunteered for NASA for over a dozen years, giving presentations and writing space mission articles. Some of the articles were published in the Middletown Times Star newspaper, and also read on KSVY Radio's"Lighten Up News" show in Sonoma, CA.
Pottery Shows:
History Museum of Santa Rosa , CA Trunk Show
Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum - Pottery and Photography 1999
Lake County Land Trust Art and Nature Day- May 6, 2017
Middletown Art Center Shows:
ASHES TO ART - An exhibition commemorating the Valley Fire Anniversary - September 2016 Exhibition
Member Show - December 2016
Driven To Abstraction - February/March 2017
Seeing Red - April 22 to May 28 2017
Art In Dialogue With Nature Show - June to September, 2019
Water - October 2017
Obsession - February 2018
Apart and Connected - March 2021
Professional Organizations/Special Recognition:
Member of :
Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association, Sierra Club, Lake County Land Trust, Redbud Audubon, Friends of Boggs Mountain., Lake County Historical Society, Friends of the Middletown Library, Friends of the Lake County Courthouse Museum, Friends of Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum, and Middletown Art Center, Lake County Arts Council, California Native Plant Society, CAL Retired Teachers, Gualala Arts, Gibson Museum, Grace Hudson Museum, Sharpsteen Museum, Jack London State Historical Park, Ely Stagestop Museum, Friends of Taylor Observatory, Napa Valley Historical Society, Pepperwood Preserve, Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, Redwood Writers, Rural Arts Initiative, and Sonoma County Regional Parks.
Ambassador to Jupiter- I was selected by NASA as one of two representatives in California for the Galileo Jupiter Project. I made public presentations about the Galileo Project.
NASA Solar System Ambassador for over a dozen years
NASA Lunar Samples- I took a NASA class to become “Lunar Certified” allowing me to borrow the moon rocks and meteorite samples to share with the public.
Astrophotography- I have photographed recent comets, Hale-Bopp and Hyakutake, which are utilized in NASA Mars expert Dr. Chris McKay’s slide show, and sold the photographs in a local shop and at art events.
Lake County Photography- I am a nature photographer. I take photographs for my columns in the Lake County News online newspaper, Awards from Lake County Fair, photo show in November 1999 at the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum, Irkutsk Museum of History, near Lake Baikal, Russia. .
Fort Ross State Historic Park Global Village Teacher- An archaeology and internet project involving schools in CA, Russia and Alaska, with participation by CA Kashaya Pomo Indians. I have participated in archaeological digs at the Metini Indian site there at Ft. Ross. My photograph of the Ft. Ross Chapel bell is currently on display in Russia’s Irkutsk Museum of History, near Lake Baikal, Russia.
Archaeology Digs I have volunteered to work on:
Archaeology Conservancy- The Archaeology Conservancy awarded me a Certificate of Recognition for working on the Borax Lake Archaeology Project in May, 1992.
I have volunteered in archaeological digs at Anderson Marsh State Historic Parks, and the BLM Patwin Indian sites, near Cache Creek, CA, Ely Stagestop, Fort Ross State Historic Park's Metini Indian site, Hoberg's Resort. I have enjoyed lectures by archaeologists, collaborated on elementary school projects with some and written about others, including archaeologists John Parker, Leslie Steidl, Breck Parkman, Mike Newland, and my dear brother, David Livingstone.
Grants and Awards:
Awarded for work in Upper Putah Creek Watershed 2006.
Scientist/Teacher Grant- I was awarded $300.00 for working with NASA Ames scientist Dr. Chris McKay on school projects, 1999.
Middletown Education Foundation Grant- I was awarded $300.00 for science materials for our school, 1999.
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Educator Grant- I was awarded a $200.00 grant to be used for science in my classroom, 1998.
California Association of Nurserymen Garden Grant- I was awarded a $200.00 for our school garden last year. I have coordinated CoyoteValley School’s first garden with another teacher, Kathie Reeves. Some highlights were growing NASA Space Tomatoes; tomatoes grown from seeds which orbited earth in a satellite for six years!
Integrating Science Throughout the Curriculum Grant- I was awarded a $200.00 mini-grant by Sonoma Co. Office of Education/Sonoma State University, 1994.
#1 Award- I received the Coyote Valley School “#1 Award” in June, 1998.
Teacher of the Year- I was selected as Coyote Valley School “Teacher of the Year”, 1998-99.
I was selected as Middletown Unified School District “Teacher of the Year”, 1998-99.
I was selected as Lake County “Teacher of the Year,” 1998-99.
I was selected as one of 10 finalists in the California State Teacher of the Year Awards, 1998-99.
#1 Award- I received the Coyote Valley School “#1 Award” in June, 1996.
Teacher of the Year- I was elected Coyote Valley School “Teacher of the Year” in 1996.
