Introduction
Dr. Elena Contreras Gullickson has more than 15 years of experience teaching middle and high school mathematics in urban, suburban, and international settings. Dr. Gullickson served as the Director of STEM Education (K-8) at a Minneapolis charter school where she developed systems and structures of high-quality teaching that elicited student thinking and built independent work habits for students. In addition to her K-12 experience, she has supervised and mentored pre-service teachers across the Twin Cities metro area. She has also taught several mathematics education and content courses as an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas.
Elena supported two research projects, Prepare2Nspire (P2N) and fostering Equitable Science through PaRental Involvement and Technology (ESPRIT), which served underrepresented students and families and were collaborative with communities. Both P2N and ESPRIT empowered the communities they served. The deep sense of urgency within these communities for high-quality STEM partnerships was evident. For her, the power and impact of community engagement transcended from the abstract to the practical. She brings that critical stance and need with her into every teaching and learning opportunity presented.