Kellie McDonnell

What 3-5 adjectives best describe you?
Receptive, Grateful, Patient, Calm, Funny

Briefly describe your job… what do you really do at EL?
I help highlight all that ExploreLearning does to make math and science fun for kids. I am lucky enough to have a front row seat to how our products help students on a daily basis while monitoring our social media profiles.

What do you like about working at EL?
I love that I get to market a product that truly helps and inspires students to be confident in school. As someone who grew up thinking they weren’t good at math, I wish these types of products had existed. Maybe I would have been an astronaut!

What's the most seriously fun thing you've ever done?
My motto is if an opportunity presents itself to have a unique experience, then take it! My friends and family know I’m always up for new and fun experiences, so I’ve been skydiving, seen the pyramids in Cairo by horseback, tried exotic dishes while traveling the world, and stood at the edge of the Cliffs of Moher on the coast of Ireland with my best friends. I’m always up for an adventure and what life brings my way!

Tell us about one of your STEM mentors. Who inspired you, and how?
A teacher in elementary school, Mrs. Hall, was a STEM mentor for me in her encouragement for our class to learn more about computers and their programs. It may have all started with “Oregon Trail” and “Where in The World is Carmen San Diego?” in the computer lab, but it led to me joining the yearbook committee to learn more about laying out pages and how computers can help make that easier! Which then led to me becoming a newspaper reporter and started me down the path to where I am today.

Chemistry or Biology?
Biology, I think I’d be in trouble with mixing chemicals.

Algebra or Geometry?
Geometry, I’m a visual learner and I always found geometry easier to understand over just numbers.

Learn a language or learn how to code?
Learn a language, I’ve always loved learning new languages and how they relate to each other or not at all. It’s also fascinating how we can communicate as humans without knowing the same language.

Deep space or deep sea?
Deep space, the ocean creeps me out with all the things that live in there!

Bill Nye or Neil DeGrasse Tyson?
Neil DeGrasse Tyson, he has a voice that makes you want to believe everything he’s telling you.

Einstein or Newton?
Einstein, I feel like he was such a character and would be fascinating to have a theoretical conversation with…and also I like his hair.

Star Wars or Star Trek?
Star Wars, except for Rogue One, I could watch the whole franchise over and over again.

Keyboard or Paper + Pencil?
Both, I’m obsessed with lists to keep me on track with my projects but also need my keyboard for faster typing of notes. 

Playlists or Podcasts?
Both, I love switching back and forth between hearing someone talk and music.

In the classroom… Front row or back row?
Back row, I love to people watch and observe how people react to information.