Dean Gilbert is the CEO and Science/STEM Consultant for EDU Consulting LLC.  In this position, he administers school, district, county, state and national professional learning, leadership and strategic planning programs.  Dean’s aim is to improve science instruction and student achievement for all students including English Learners, Special Education and Alternative Education.  Dean creates and provides innovative professional learning and curriculum support to public school districts, charter, private and parochial schools.  Additionally, Dean develops technology systems to improve teaching and learning, and works collaboratively with community-based, informal science, non-profit and parent organizations to improve student achievement.

He has extensive experience in science education from the classroom to the statewide level, as a secondary science teacher, district science coordinator, county science coordinator, consultant/program director on statewide projects, and as a Past President and Board Member for the California Science Teachers Association.  These experiences have enabled Dean to set policy and help shape California science reform efforts for over 43 years in the areas of standards development, instructional materials adoption, assessment, and curriculum reform.

Dean’s grass-roots experience in developing district science standards, abilities to bring together key constituents, and fiscal/budgetary management skills, led to the development of nationally recognized science standards for Long Beach Unified School District, a Broad Prize-winning school district.  He was actively involved in the development of the California Science Content Standards and Science Framework.  At the national level, he was a contributing author for the Scope, Sequence and Coordination Core Curriculum and is currently a reviewer for the Next Generation of Science Standards.

Dean is experienced at building collaborations among community and corporate business leaders, forming partnerships, developing STEM-related resources and gaining financial support for schools, districts and statewide efforts.  For example, under Dean’s direction, the Los Angeles County Science & Engineering Fair evolved from a small venue with a budget of $6,000 to an elaborate, multi-faceted event (with a budget of $130,000) for some 4,000 students, parents, teachers, community/business leaders.

Dean has served on a variety of advisory boards, and has authored/co-authored several education articles.  He is an adjunct science education professor at California State University, Long Beach, a featured speaker at state and national conferences, a member of the Legislative Oversight Committee for the California Science Teachers Association, a recipient of the Administrator of the Year Award from the California Science Education Advisory Committee, and past recipient of the Margaret Nicholson Award, the highest honor California Science Teachers Association bestows to a science educator.