ONLINE RESUME' AND EXPERIENCE PROFILE

(Photos below)

Jason J. Crean wears many hats.  He is a biology teacher at the high school and college level, works in the zoological community, and takes great joy in educating people of all ages about the natural world.  He also does a great deal more when not in the classroom...

Employment profile:

• Currently teaches biology at Lyons Township High School
• Also teaches environmental science at Moraine Valley College
• Aids in research/service work in the Genetics Lab (Conservation Biology Department) at Brookfield Zoo
• Develops curricula and teaches staff development and graduate courses for teachers in the Education Department at Brookfield Zoo
• Adjunct faculty at Aurora University & Benedictine University
• Acts as consultant to zoos and private institutions in the care, breeding, and propagation of avian species as well as curriculum development
• Has taught at Homewood-Flossmoor High School teaching biology and animal science
• Has also taught graduate courses in educational technology for Saint Xavier University

Education:

• Graduated Cum Laude from Saint Xavier University with Bachelor's degree in Biology
• Graduated from Saint Xavier University with Master's degree in Curriculum & Instruction
• Graduated from Western Illinois University with a Master's degree in biology (specialization in zoology)
• Holds a Type 75 Administration certificate
• Holds a graduate certificate in Zoo & Aquarium Science
• Completed basic training in Choice Theory/Reality Therapy
• Completed basic training in Multiple Intelligences Theory
• Completed Fundamentals of Aviculture course (Level I)

Other activities:

• Alum member of Beta Beta Beta Biological Honors Society (Omega Delta Chapter)
• Alum member of Kappa Delta Pi Education Honors Society
• President, The Avicultural Society of Chicagoland
• Professional breeder of hookbilled and softbilled birds
• Co-sponsor of LTHS Zoology Club
• Member of the LT Science Articulation Committee
• Mentor teacher
• Regional Director, American Federation of Aviculture

Awards:

• 2003 Innovative Educator Award winner
• 2002 Haisman Teacher of the Year Finalist
• 2003 Distinguished Alumnus Award winner
• 2004 Outstanding Biology Teacher of the Year nominee
• 2005 Outstanding Biology Teacher of the Year nominee
• Showcased in Technology & Learning Magazine, 2001
• 2007 Golden Apple nominee
• 2007 Who's Who Among America's Teachers
• 2009 National Science Teachers Association "Making a Difference" Award winner
• 2009 Presidential Award for Excellence in Math & Science Teaching State finalist
• 2009 National Association of Biology Teachers Award for Ecology & Environmental Science Teaching

Professional works:

• Lecturer on topics that include Species Survival Plans, Avian Genetics, Endangered Species causes, & more
• Published:  "The Lineolated Parakeet, Bolborhynchus lineola"  Parrot Chronicles:  June, 2003
• Published:  "Avian Education:  The need for softbill exposure"  NFSS Journal:  March/April, 2004
• Lecturer:  "Species Survival Plans"  Midwest Avian Seminar:  March, 2002
• Lecturer:  "The H.I.P.P.O. Dilemma:  Reasons for species endangerment"  Fall Avian Research Seminar:  September, 2003
• Lecturer:  "Avian Genetics 101"  GCCBC Workshop, August, 2004
• Lecturer:  "Avicultural Experiences"  GCCBC Workshop June, 2005
• Lecturer:  "Species Survival Plans:  an Update"  Northern Illinois Parrot Society Workshop  August, 2005
• Published:  "Illinois HB0707: Local Groups Work Together to Defeat Proposed Legislation"  AFA Watchbird: Volume XXXI Number 4  August, 2005 (author)
• Published:  "Activities in Environmental Science" laboratory manual  (co-author)
• Published:  "The Aviarium:  Constructing a Year-round Avian Habitat"
• Presenter:  "Zoo Genetics"  National Association of Biology Teachers Convention  October, 2005
• Presenter:  "Conservation Genetics Curriculum Activities for the High School Classroom"   Biotechnology Convention   April, 2006
• Author:  "Animal Colors" curriculum  Brookfield Zoo, Spring, 2005
• Author:  "Biodiversity Hotspots"  curriculum  Brookfield Zoo, Summer, 2006
• Published:  "Zoo Genetics:  Key Aspects of Conservation Biology"  July, 2007
• Lecture on "Responsible Aviculture:  Softbills"  Northern Illinois Parrot Society Workshop  October, 2006
• Lecture on "Zoo Genetics:  It's what's on the inside that counts!"  Northern Illinois Parrot Society   March 2007
• Lecture on "Experiences in Aviculture"  Kenosha Exotic Bird Club   March, 2007
• Published:  "Lineolated Parakeets"  Parrots magazine  October, 2007
• Lecture on "Aracaris in Aviculture:  Pteroglossus viridis" at the "Flying into Knowledge" seminar, September 29, 2007
• Published:  "Green Aracaris in Aviculture"  Journal of the American Federation of Aviculture, Vol. XXXIV, No. 4, 2007
• Lecture on "Green Aracaris in Aviculture"  American Federation of Aviculture National Convention, July, 2008
• Featured aviculturist in the July, 2008 issue of Bird Talk magazine
• GRADUATE COURSES/WORKSHOPS OFFERED AT BROOKFIELD ZOO in 2008:  Animal Colors in April/May, Animal Communication in May, Interspecific Genetics, Species Survival Plan database management in March 2009, Ornithology and more to come.

Please contact Mr. Crean for his speaking schedule or for grading information at jcrean@lths.net.

Thanks for visiting!  -  The Webmaster

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Be sure to visit www.xy-zoo.com to view
Mr. Crean's book "Zoo Genetics: Key Aspects of Conservation Biology."

PICTURE GALLERY

Here is Mr. Crean with Dr. Jean Dubach, the award-winning geneticist who runs the Molecular program at Brookfield Zoo.  The lab services zoos and conservation projects from all over the world.

Here is Mr. Crean at Niabi Zoo in the Lorikeet Landing with which he helped consult.

Here is one of Mr. Crean's college students doing behavioral observations at the Baboon exhibit over the summer.

Here is Mr. Crean with an Australian Tawny Frogmouth baby that was being raised by humans at Brookfield Zoo.

Here are the first two Whitebacked Mousebirds (Colius colius) that Mr. Crean hatched and raised in our area last summer!

Mr. Crean also dabbles in horticulture.  Note the interesting forked stamen (male parts) and tubular pistils (female parts) in the flower above.

Here is a butterfly that had frequented this type of flower (Lantana sp.) during the summer.

As part of Mr. Crean's work as president of TASC, he and other members raise funds to be donated to worthy causes, such as zoo programs in need and other conservation organizations.  Here he presents a donation to Asst. Curator of Birds, Anne Oiler, and "Cookie" the Cockatoo at Brookfield Zoo's celebration of Cookie the Cockatoo's 71st Birthday Party.

Another donation that was made this past year was a toy donation to the bird keepers at the zoo.  Note the very interested macaws in the background... and the very interesting keeper at the right.

This is Babe, a very friendly Asian elephant at Niabi Zoo.

Here is Babe in a behavioral study performed in conjunction with the Biology Dept at Western Illinois University.

Here is Mr. Crean with a baby porcupine...  not too many quills yet!

Babe after a dust bath!

Colleen Stalf, head zookeeper at Niabi Zoo, with a greenwing macaw (Ara chloroptera). 

Mr. Crean syringe-feeds two 14-day old Goldie's lorikeets.

Dr. Dubach enjoyed feeding some of the lorikeets at Niabi Zoo.

The lorikeets didn't want to leave her alone!

The Big Island

We planned this trip for our junior-senior level animal science students so that we could immerse ourselves in the living things on an island with such diverse ecosystems.

The students had a fantastic time, swimming with the dolphins at Dolphin Quest, snorkeling with tropical fish and sea turtles, and whale watching.

The students also saw the change in climate from one side of the island to the other, starting with the desert of Kona to the tropics of Hilo.  Waterfalls, volcanoes, and so many other wonders to see!

I am sure the students enjoyed this experience as much as we did!

Akaka Falls

One of the groups with a very happy dolphin!

Green sea turtle

Another group with one of the dolphins at Dolphin Quest.

Some of the students on the beach side of the resort.