Pamella Truesdell
National Science Foundation
Engineering Directorate, Division of Engineering and Centers, Research Experiences for Teachers in Engineering Program
Ohio, High School Engineering
As a newly retired teacher, Pamela (Pam) Truesdell completed 30 years with Cincinnati Public Schools in May, 2011. Her teaching career was spent at Aiken High School (3 years), Roberts Junior High (4 years) and Western Hills High School (23 years). She taught a variety of subjects and grade levels including seventh grade Ohio Studies, eleventh grade Algebra II and ninth grade Introduction to Engineering Design.
Having graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Cincinnati with High Honors and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Truesdell earned a B.A. (1980) and M.A.T. (1982) in History. She also received a B.S. in Education (1981) with certification in history and mathematics. In the course of her teaching career, Truesdell also obtained certification in Computer Science and PLTW (Project Lead the Way) Engineering.
As part of Cincinnati Public Schools’ redesign, Western Hills was divided into two schools in 2002, one of which was Western Hills Engineering High School. Truesdell served as the department chair for the Engineering Department and was part of the committee that helped the school receive National Certification from Project Lead the Way (PLTW) in 2010. As part of the ceremony honoring newly certified schools, students from her G.E.E.K. (Growing in Environmental Engineering Knowledge) Garden Club presented before the Ohio PLTW Conference. Truesdell also worked as program facilitator with the University of Cincinnati in Project STEP (Science and Technology Enhancement Program) under National Science Foundation funding. She believes this type of collaboration between high schools and colleges has a positive impact.
Having graduated from Western Hills High School, teaching in the community where she grew up and continues to live, was very important to Pam. She wanted students to see that “one of their own” was blessed in being able to realize her dreams. Being able to interact with students through extracurricular activities was also very important. During her career, Pam was the school’s yearbook advisor for 11 years. She also worked as advisor of the Bible Club, Spirit Club, Web Design Club, and Garden Club and was co-advisor of the Robotics Club.
Working in an urban public school system, Truesdell used daily quotations to stress that she was not only teaching a class in engineering, she was teaching a class in success. “Students needed to see that education in engineering could open doors to exciting and important careers. With everything from green technologies to robotics, they could certainly find a field of engineering that would fit their personal interests and allow them to realize success in life.”
Truesdell is serving her fellowship at the National Science Foundation, Engineering Directorate, Division of Engineering and Centers, Research Experiences for Teachers in Engineering Program.