Ruth Catchen, B. Music, M.Music, MA, received her Bachelor of Music degree from American University and her Master of Music degree from The Catholic University of America, in Vocal Performance and performed with many distinguished opera companies, conductors and orchestras in the United States. Later in her career, she turned her direction to music education and founded a youth chorale with the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra in Naples, Florida. They performed with the orchestra as well as with well-known conductors such as Pops great, Erich Kunzel.
After moving to Colorado, Catchen focused her attention to public education, hoping to better its quality and depth. She received her second master’s degree in 2007 from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs in Curriculum and Instruction/Leadership. Catchen develops arts integrated, STEM/STEAM curriculum programs for both in school and enrichment, that bring educational opportunities to disadvantaged youth and other non-profit organizations. Her passion is to promote excellent instruction that supports teachers by connecting the arts to other core academics.
Along with being the Artist-In-Residence at Jack Swigert Aerospace Academy in Colorado Springs, Catchen has been published multiple times in the peer-reviewed The STEAM Journal and is currently working on best practices for P-20 STEAM education. Catchen serves as a resource for many prominent STEM curriculum writers and publications, including in the recent release STEM by Design by Anne Jolly. Catchen is actively sought as a program and curriculum developer writing curricula for a wide range from Pre-K -12 to modules for teacher preparation programs and currently is the curriculum manager for Monthly Science Club.