Christopher J. Parker

   Freelance Writer and Editor
Online resume

cparker@wayofthepencil.com

512.477.5987


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Experience

Freelance Editor, Austin, Texas.  March 2005 to Present.
Developed educational and assessment material to client specifications. Recent subjects include language arts, world history, U.S. history, and state history for clients Harcourt Achieve, Austin, Texas (see below); Harcourt Assessment, San Antonio, Texas; Publishers Resource Group, Austin, Texas; and Pearson-Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle, New Jersey.

Project Editor, Reading/Language Arts, Harcourt Achieve, Austin, Texas.  April 2005 to Present.
Developed educational materials for two reading programs for grades 1 through 6. Edited and rewrote stories, articles, questions, and activities. Coordinated with development house writers and in-house design and production staff.

Editor, Humanities Department, Publishers Resource Group, Inc., Austin, Texas.  December 2000 to February 2005.
Worked at a development house writing and editing a variety of educational and assessment materials for clients. Projects included developing teacher’s edition and teacher’s resource material for Celebrating Texas, a middle school history program; and editing the TAKS Information Booklets for Social Studies, the Texas Education Agency’s study guides for the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills. Supervised freelancers and established and maintained project schedules. Followed manuscript through all stages of development and assured quality. Communicated with clients and project staff. Maintained factcheck files and freelancer database.

Associate Editor, Social Studies Department, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Austin, Texas.  February 1996 to December 2000.
Developed, wrote, and edited instructional materials for middle school and high school educational programs, including People, Places, and Change, World History: Continuity and Change, World History: People and Nations, and Exploring America’s Past. Supervised freelance writers and fact checkers, participated in photo selection, and worked closely with design and production staff. Communicated with clients and project staff. Maintained factcheck files and freelancer database.

Account Associate, C.M. Brownstein & Associates, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland.  July 1994 to April 1995.
At a consulting firm managing non-profit associations, served as Director of Governance and Special Projects for Financial Women International, a 10,000-member professional association. Coordinated with Board of Directors and regional, state, and local officers. Proofread monthly and quarterly publications, national directory, and correspondence.

Congressional Staff Intern, Office of Congressman Martin Frost, Washington, DC.  January 1994 to March 1994.
Answered constituent mail and telephone inquiries. Reviewed and summarized proposed legislation. Maintained constituent database, purchased supplies, and performed general office duties.

Archeologist, Micronesian Archeological Research Services, Guam.  September 1991 to March 1992.
Excavated and analyzed Pre-Contact sites on the Manenggon Hills Development Project. Performed detailed recordkeeping and mapping of excavation work. Analyzed and recorded artifacts.

Education

1993    M.A. in Middle East Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
1991    B.A. in Political Science and Anthropology, Rice University

Honors

1998    Publishing Excellence Award, World History: People and Nations, Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
1997    Publishing Excellence Award, Exploring America’s Past, Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

Service

Volunteer, Texas Memorial Museum, UT Austin:
2004    Publishing Editor, the Austin Science Fun Guide.
2003    Editor, interpretive exhibit text, Biodiversity in Texas
2002    Editor, interpretive exhibit text, Natural Wonders:  Treasures of the TMM

Last Update: 29 January 2005

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