Peter McLaren is currently the Science and Technology Specialist for the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE). Before joining the RIDE Mr. McLaren had been a teacher of science for thirteen years at both the high school and middle levels. He served as Science Department Chair for grades 7–12 for East Greenwich Public Schools in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. In addition to his role as science and technology specialist, Mr. McLaren is currently serving as President of the Council of State Science Supervisors (CSSS), an organization of which he has been a member since 2005. As President of CSSS, he also serves on the Alliance of Affiliates for National Science Teacher Association representing CSSS.
Prior to his tenure as Department Chair, Mr. McLaren taught 8th grade science at Archie Cole Middle School in East Greenwich. In addition to his role as a science teacher, he was also involved as a trainer for several educational technology initiatives such as Project SMART, Rhode Island Teachers and Technology Initiative (RITTI), and Enhancing Education Through Technology (E2T2).
An award-winning educator, Mr. McLaren was recognized with the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award (2001) and as the Rhode Island Science Teacher of the Year (1995) by the MIT sponsored, Network of Educators of Science and Technology.
In 2005, Mr. McLaren was a member of the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) Science Assessment Development team along with representatives from New Hampshire and Vermont. Mr. McLaren was also a member of the development team that designed the RI Grade Span Expectations in Science which serve as Rhode Island’s standards for science. Mr. McLaren is also State Coordinator for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching for Rhode Island and has been instrumental in restructuring leadership to reconvene the Rhode Island Science Teachers Association. At the national level, Mr. McLaren has been appointed to a three-year term as a member of the Board of Directors for the Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education. He is also a member of the Blended Learning Open Source Science or Math Studies (BLOSSOMS) Advisory Committee at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts.