Michael Occhino

Director of Science Education Outreach
Center for Professional Development & Education Reform

Education

BS, University of Rochester

MS, University of Rochester

PhD, University of Rochester

Biography

Michael Occhino (he/him) is the inaugural director of science education outreach in the Center for Professional Development and Education Reform. He works with practicing teachers at all levels (PreK-20) in efforts to foster student-centric learning regionally and nationally. He coordinates projects that include the designing and implementation of high quality reform-minded professional learning for practicing teachers and leaders which includes content-focused coaching, leading pedagogical institutes, and in-situ teaching labs.

Occhino teaches courses at Warner, all with a focus on equitable access to (STEMM) learning for all students. These courses include reform-based science education, professional learning, teacher leadership, and urban schooling, National Science Foundation projects that he leads similarly focus on Belonging, Access, Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (Be-A-JEDI Noyce Master Teaching Fellowship) in urban schools. Occhino directs and advises students in Warner’s Advanced  Certificate in Teacher Leadership program and engages in STEMM program evaluation in local and NSF funded international PIRE projects.

Occhino draws on his extensive previous work as a science educator and teacher leader in local urban schools which informs his research interests in science teacher identity development in the midst of systemic change. He works to meaningfully translate theory and research into practice and engages in research on teaching in order to broaden the fields of science education and teacher leadership