Erica Caine
District 4 Director
Nominee: Erica Caine
Biographical Information on Nominee
Erica Caine strongly believes that all children in North Carolina deserve opportunities to engage in hands-on, inquiry-based learning experiences that cultivate both a curiosity about and an understanding of scientific phenomena and enterprise. It is her position that these learning experiences should begin in the primary grades and build in complexity and sophistication as the child advances through each level of schooling. As a fifth-grade teacher at E.E. Miller Elementary School in Fayetteville, NC, Erica combines her two passions, literacy and science education, to create a classroom atmosphere that encourages her students to engage in self-discovery, critical thinking, collaboration, open discourse, technical reading, and clinical writing. A dynamic member of the faculty, Erica serves as her school’s Technology Facilitator, and chairs the Student Improvement Team, The Parent Involvement Committee, and the Science Olympiad. Her active involvement extends beyond Miller Elementary to service with the greater school system. In addition to her district wide collaboration with Science Olympiad Competitions, she is a member of the Cumberland County Schools Science Advisory Committee. As an Advisory committee member Erica has assisted in the development and implementation of the county-wide curriculum, acted as a peer-presenter at county professional development meetings, and promoted collaboration and networking among the teachers working within Cumberland County schools.
Erica earned a B.S. Elementary Education from Fayetteville State University, and a Master’s Degree from Methodist University. She holds both the K-12 Reading Specialist and the Educational Technology Certifications. Erica is a member of the North Carolina Science Teachers Association and has shared her educational expertise and ideas as a presenter at several recent NCSTA Professional Development Institutions.
Mission Statement
If I have the honor of being elected to the NCSTA District Director position, I will work to assist science teachers in District 4 and throughout the state by helping with the creation of lesson plans and the development of resources that can be used with multiple grade levels. I will continue to organize and facilitate the district Science Olympiad competition and help those teacher sponsors learn of other student competitions endorsed by NCSTA. I will serve as a liaison between the teachers within District 4 and the association so my peers can learn of and benefit from the services and opportunities offered by NCSTA. Not only will I continue to present at the annual NCSTA conference to share my knowledge and ideas with fellow educators, but will also encourage support for other teachers in my area so they too can benefit from attending the Professional Development Institutes.
