# Carissa Romano > K-12 Curriculum Leader | Instructional Materials Designer Location: San Francisco Bay Area, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/carissaromano I'm a science educator turned curriculum and product design leader, with 15+ years shaping curriculum units, digital learning tools, simulations, and professional development that meet real classroom needs. With a strong foundation in pedagogy and a sharp eye for UX, I translate complex learning goals into intuitive, engaging experiences. I thrive at the intersection of content, design, and strategy—whether I’m collaborating with engineers, coaching curriculum teams, or shaping product direction from concept to classroom impact. Now, I'm exploring new paths in K-12 education, edtech product leadership, and beyond. ## Work Experience ### Lead Curriculum Specialist and Product Designer @ Lawrence Hall of Science, UC Berkeley Jan 2011 – Present | Berkeley, CA I am a leader in the design of digital learning tools, simulations, and curriculum units for Amplify Science, used by over 5 million students. I collaborate cross-functionally with engineers, UX designers, and education experts to create engaging science experiences that align with learning goals. Key Contributions: •Led cross-functional development of custom simulations and science modeling tools •Translated instructional goals into UX specs and feature requests, acting as liaison between content and product teams. •Directed revision cycles using teacher/student feedback and analytics to improve learning outcomes and usability. •Delivered professional development and supported curriculum adoption across multiple states. ### Curriculum Writer @ Safe2Drive Jan 2018 – Jan 2018 Developed a 40,000-word, 16-lesson online defensive driving course, incorporating quiz questions, images, and interactive activities. Synthesized data and information from multiple sources to meet the Arizona State requirements. Compiled data into tables and graphs to communicate important concepts. I received the following testimonial from Safe2Drive: Carissa was a dream to work with. She was a fast learner, quickly grasping the requirements for the project and our vast archive of multimedia elements that needed to be integrated into the course. She communicated effectively throughout the project and responded swiftly to emails and requests. The course she delivered fulfilled our expectations: it was well-written, engaging, and thoughtfully laid out. I hope we have the opportunity to work with her again, and I would full-heartedly recommend her to anyone who is looking for a curriculum writer.She is a hard worker who is very thorough and detail-oriented, and she would be a strong asset to any team. ### Environmental Science Teacher @ Envision Education Jan 2010 – Jan 2011 | Oakland, CA Developed and delivered an AP Environmental science curriculum in collaboration with school-site grade level teams and district level science teams. ### Science Teacher @ Hayward Unified School District Jan 2003 – Jan 2010 Developed and taught engaging, inquiry-based curriculum for Physical Science, Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology classes. ### Science Department Chair @ Hayward Unified School District Jan 2006 – Jan 2009 | Hayward, CA Oversaw science department curriculum. Mentored new science teachers. Designed and implemented school and district level innovations in processes and students' experience as a member of the school-site and district curriculum council. ### Research Assistant @ Case Western Reserve University Jan 1999 – Jan 2001 Conducted molecular and microbiology research. ## Education ### Master of Education (MEd) in Secondary Education and Teaching University of California, Berkeley ### Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Biology, General Oberlin College ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/carissa-romano-curriculum --- Source: https://flows.cv/carissaromano JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/carissaromano/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-05