Irene Plonczak

Irene Plonczak joined the Hofstra University faculty in 2005 as an assistant professor in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching. Dr. Plonczak is currently the co-director of the Master of Arts Program in Elementary Education, Specialization in Math, Science and Technology.

Her current research focuses on the impact of outdoor classrooms on science methods courses in teacher education programs. She also works on developing videoconferencing and podcasts in science for teacher education programs. Dr. Plonczak presently holds two advisory positions, one overseeing a vegetable garden project at the Walnut Street Elementary School in the Uniondale School District and the other as adviser on a professional development proposal for math, science and technology at the Washington Rose Elementary School in the Roosevelt School District.

Dr. Plonczak earned a master’s degree in science education in 1993 at Laval University in Quebec, Canada, and in 2003 received a Ph.D. from Sherbrooke University (Quebec, Canada). While in Canada, she was appointed professor of science methods for elementary and middle school teachers at the Faculty of Education of the University of Ottawa (Ontario, Canada). Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, Dr. Plonczak earned an undergraduate degree in chemistry and general sciences. She spent more than 15 years as an elementary and middle school science teacher in an inner city school in Caracas. She also served the Venezuelan Ministry of Education by working on curriculum development projects for interdisciplinary elementary and middle school science classes.

Dr. Plonczak is fluent in English, Spanish, French and German.

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