Meet Our Team
Lesley Anderson, Founder & CEO
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Lesley received her B.S. in Biological Sciences at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2012 where she competed on the track team and was involved in line dancing and rodeo. In 2017 Lesley completed her M.S. in Chemistry from South Dakota State University while teaching full-time. She is currently an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow with the Library of Congress and a doctoral candidate at San Diego State University in the Science and Mathematics K-12 Educational Leadership program.
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Dalya Almansour, Curriculum Writer
Projects: Expanded Learning Curriculum with San Diego County Office of Education
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Dalya grew up in San Diego, California. She received her B.S. in Public Health from the University of California, Irvine in 2011. Dalya worked in the healthcare industry supporting populations with diabetes, hypertension, and asthma while developing the implementation of Patient Centered Medical Health. She received her credential and Master’s in Special Education in 2015 from the University of San Diego, and her credential in chemistry in 2016. She has been working in the educational system to bring equity into the classroom through differentiated instruction, engaging projects, and rigorous curriculum. Dalya currently works for The Preuss School UC San Diego as a Learning Specialist.
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Brian Anderson, Copy Editor
Projects: Biotechnology Curriculum with Genentech, Semiconductors with SEMI Foundation
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Brian Anderson is a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. For nearly eight years Brian has served as an air crewman with V-22 Ospreys. Brian has lived in four states across the country and he was deployed to Iraq for six months in 2018. In 2019, Brian earned a Navy Commendation Medal for meritorious service. Brian demonstrates his leadership ability as a Weapons and Tactics Instructor for V-22 air crewmen. He brings to the team a unique perspective as an informal educator and provides editorial feedback to the curriculum writing team.
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Kristin Boehm, Copy Editor
Projects: Biotechnology Curriculum with Genentech
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Kristin Boehm received her B.A. in International Studies from the University of California, San Diego, and is currently running operations at a coworking space in Santa Barbara. Her educational passion centers around entrepreneurship, and she has facilitated various workshops geared toward small businesses, social entrepreneurship, and economic collaboration between businesses and local governments. Her experience presenting curriculum and writing operational processes and marketing materials has situated her well for joining the Teacher Research Consultants as a copy editor.
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Jenny Bourassa, Project-Based Learning Coach
Projects: Aerospace Curriculum with Lockheed Martin, Biotechnology Curriculum with Genentech, Semiconductors with SEMI Foundation, Cybersecurity with U.S. Navy, Value of Space with The Aerospace Corporation
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Jenny Bourassa is a science educator, curriculum designer, teacher coach, and mentor. She enjoys working with teachers at all stages of their educational journey and believes that building relationships is the key to transformative educational experiences. She began her teaching journey on Catalina Island first as a Marine Science Instructor at CIMI (Catalina Island Marine Institute) and later as Program Director. She then moved back home to San Diego and worked at High Tech High Chula Vista, both as a math/science teacher and as a Science Instructional Coach.
More recently, she has worked with San Diego Teacher Residency, through the High Tech High Graduate School of Education, as both a course instructor and fieldwork supervisor to residents. She is excited to return to coaching as an Instructional Coach at HTMMA (High Tech Middle Media Arts), helping both new and veteran teachers expand their practice to push student thinking and create more equitable learning spaces. When she isn’t working with students and teachers, she can be found listening to an audiobook, in the ocean, or out in nature with her two boys. |
Kyla Bradylong, Curriculum Writer
Projects: Space Textbook with Space Prize, Aerospace Curriculum with The Aerospace Corporation, Biotechnology Curriculum with Genentech, Expanded Learning Curriculum with San Diego County Office of Education
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Kyla is passionate about making learning science exciting and relevant to all students. She believes that science is the cumulation of all subjects and works for cross-disciplinary projects and thinking in schools. She received her B.S. in Biological Sciences with a minor in Psychology from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, in December 2011 where she was a college ambassador and resident advisor. While at Cal Poly, Kyla studied genome preferences in Brassica napus plants. Kyla then received her Single Subject Science Credential with additional authorization in Earth Science, Chemistry, Biology, and Physics from Cal Poly. She has been working in traditional high schools in Sonoma county teaching all science subjects since. In 2017, Kyla received her M.S. in Chemistry with a focus in Chemical Education from South Dakota State University while teaching full time. Since 2015, she has been lucky enough to be teaching at her alma mater, Maria Carrillo High School in Santa Rosa, CA. Here she serves as science department chair, on the Instructional Leadership Committee, on the districtwide NGSS Steering Committee, and on the districtwide Social Justice Curriculum Writing Committee.
Kyla spends her summers in labs or traveling. She has researched microorganisms residing on Mars-based space crafts at NASA's JPL, alternative cancer treatments at the Center for Biophotonics, carbon and nitrogen fixation in zooplankton at the Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies. She has been to over 15 states and over a dozen countries with plans to increase both of those numbers. |
Kyla Burns, Curriculum Writer
Projects: Value of Space with The Aerospace Corporation
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Kyla Burns is an instructional coach at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa. She earned her B.S. in Biology from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. After graduating, she began her career teaching high school zoology, biology, and AP environmental science. She has her Masters of Arts in Teaching and is working toward her second Masters in PK-12 Administration. Kyla has extensive experience and training in curriculum design surrounding the Next Generation Science Standards. She is passionate about asking students to investigate engaging phenomena and key driving questions as they make sense of the world around them. In 2020, Kyla was a state finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching. Kyla enjoys traveling with her family to places where they can explore nature, go rock and fossil hunting, and view wildlife.
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Tamar Cloyd, Copy Editor
Projects: Space Textbook with Space Prize
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Tamar Cloyd is the principal consultant of The Antidote LLC, a fundraising and communications firm that supports nonprofits in fulfilling their mission. Raised in a family dedicated to invoking Black Excellence, Tamar understood early on the responsibility that she had in contributing to the collective effort towards the restoration of communities.
Yet, her greatest accomplishment is raising up three beautiful, compassionate and intelligent young Black men with her late husband, Tyrone (Ty) Cloyd, Jr. She resides in the Cleveland area and is excited to continue Ty's legacy of bold entrepreneurship and fearless living. Tamar obtained a bachelor's degree in Psychology (cognate: Criminal Justice) from Michigan State University and went on to receive a master's degree in Community Social Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. |
Adam Cooper, Curriculum Writer
Projects: Cybersecurity with U.S. Navy
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Adam grew up in the hinterlands of New Jersey, near the Appalachian Trail (about 45 minutes away from New York City). Being in love with learning his whole life, Adam joined the education scene, and became known as Mr. Cooper. He helps his students to make positive contributions in their communities with respect to nature and the environment.
Adam taught himself how to use computers at a young age and this hobby turned into a passion for leveraging technology in the classroom to support teaching and learning. Adam enjoys learning about the work of faculty and science professionals, which led to curriculum writing opportunities for The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and Avenues: The World School in the areas of environmental justice and water quality issues. Adam is a bad, but enthusiastic dancer. |
Sarah Cox, Curriculum Writer
Projects: BlueTech Curriculum with The Maritime Alliance, Expanded Learning Curriculum with San Diego County Office of Education
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Sarah is passionate about supporting all students of varying learning abilities. Sarah received her BA in Liberal Studies with a Minor in Kinesiology at CSU Monterey Bay. She decided to move down south to sunny San Diego, where she earned a dual teaching credential in Multiple Subjects and Special Education. She began working at High Tech High Chula Vista as an Academic Coach, supporting students with disabilities. This school was a full- inclusion model, which opened her eyes to see the benefits and the importance of all students being integrated together. She then moved over to High Tech Middle Chula Vista where she became an Inclusion Specialist (Special Education Teacher). She absolutely loves working with the middle school kiddos and worked there for three years. Sarah went back to school to get her Masters in Teaching Special Education at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego during this time. She realized she loves working with students who need additional social-emotional support so she decided she wanted to write her thesis about Restorative Practices and the benefits it has within the school setting. Sarah is now teaching a multiple subject 6th class grade at King-Chavez Preparatory Academy.
Through her years of teaching, she has also presented at the HTH Spring Institute on How to Integrate Diverse Learners into the General Education Classroom, worked as an Activities Consultant for !mpact Players to curate tactical and movement exploration for students in an after school program, and presented at Beyond the Bell the importance of socio-emotional learning in after school programs. When Sarah finds some free time, she loves to travel and explore the outdoors. Sarah and her husband have traveled over 30 states and visited 24 National Parks in their converted van. She enjoys hiking, camping, cooking, and going to dog beach with her puppy, Taxi! |
Amy Faires, Curriculum Writer
Projects: Robotic Satellites with with The Aerospace Corporation
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The world of education satisfies Amy's love of learning, penchant for being silly, and her ultimate goal of helping kids take over the world. She was the 2015 recipient of the “World’s Goodest Teacher” award, bestowed by a sixth-grader; it's an exclusive award not received by another. Amy firmly believes education should be energizing and relevant! Learning happens best when each student is not just compliant, but curious and enthused as well. Her lessons reflect this. Students deserve to be engaged in and excited about learning experiences in an environment where they feel safe and free to take creative, intellectual risks with one another. The balance of playfulness and seriousness will help them through learning adventures.
Hearing Bertie Kingore speak at the National Association for Gifted Children in 2014 sums up Amy's ideas about lessons: “The aim of a good lesson isn’t fun, but the result of one is.” Amy works to ensure that a child’s experience educational experience is one where they work harder than they planned and find themselves growing and flourishing with a smile on their face. |
Kaitlyn Graham, Illustrator
Projects: Expanded Learning Curriculum with San Diego County Office of Education
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Kaitlyn Graham is an illustrator and graphic designer based in San Diego, CA. After graduating from San Diego State University, she focused on building a career as a freelancer. Her love of the outdoors and natural world inspires most of her work, leading to many wildlife and plant illustrations.
Kaitlyn has also illustrated children's books, some of which teach children about different animals and how to care for them. She also created Kaitlyn Nicole Design, which specializes in educating about plants and animals. This work aims to teach people about the planet and that we can all do something to make a difference, no matter how small. |
Rebecca Hooper, Diversity and Equity Coach
Projects: Biotechnology Curriculum with Genentech, Cybersecurity with U.S. Navy
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In 2010, Rebecca Hooper graduated from California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo with a B.S. in Biochemistry, the following year she earned her Single-Subject Teaching Credential in Chemistry.
Rebecca started her first position at Laurel High School in the fall of 2011 teaching biology, microbiology, and genetics. Midway through 2015 she took over as science department chair and started teaching chemistry and AP chemistry courses. Rebecca has served the school in various roles including Beta Club Sponsor, Science and Engineering Fair Coordinator and Coach, and Softball Coach. Last year, 2019-2020, she served as the district Science Curriculum Specialist providing support to K-12 teachers. Rebecca has attended various Research Experience for Teacher (RET) Programs at University of Southern Mississippi and Arizona State University. Rebecca is also the author of the book, Ella the Electron, published after an RET program with Arizona State University. This children's book is the fictional story of a girl who goes on an adventure that illustrates how solar panels work, incorporating physical science concepts like the atomic structure and electromagnetic spectrum. Check out here book below! |
Sara Kate Howe, Curriculum Writer
Projects: Biotechnology Curriculum with Genentech, Value of Space with The Aerospace Corporation
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Sara Kate Howe is an AP Biology and environmental biology teacher at Johnston High School. She is a midwesterner, raised in Jacksonville, Illinois. She earned a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Spanish and Masters in Science Education. Both of these degrees are from Truman State University in Missouri. After a year of teaching in the St. Louis area, she moved to central Iowa where she currently lives and teaches. During her teaching career she has loved the opportunity to try many different teaching strategies with diverse learners. Her goal is simply to get more kids excited about science. She has also taken advantage of “teacher summers” to gain laboratory experience through biotechnology focused research internships. She is currently pursuing a MS in Biology from Clemson University. Sara Kate has a passion for sports and the outdoors and enjoys both with her 3 kids (Jake-8, Mollie-5, Annie-2) and husband.
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Sara Jose, Curriculum Writer
Projects: Cybersecurity with U.S. Navy
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Sara grew up in San Diego, California. She received her B.S. in Liberal Studies with a math concentration from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2017 where she graduated in less than three years and was active in her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta. In 2018, Sara received her Single Subject Mathematics Teaching Credential from San Diego State University. While teaching high school math full time, Sara completed her Master's of Education with a Curriculum and Instruction focus in 2021 from the University of San Diego.
When Sara is not in the classroom teaching math, she spends as much time as possible seeing the world and being active outdoors. At the beginning of 2022 she took a Wilderness Basics Course to better hone her safety, survival, and navigation skills when hiking, car camping, and backpacking. She has also found a passion for gardening and raising houseplants, although her green thumb is a work in progress. |
Jeannine Keenan, Curriculum Writer
Projects: Cybersecurity with U.S. Navy
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Jeannine Keenan and is a Bay Area local, born and raised in Fremont, California. She received her bachelor’s degree in English at Saint Mary’s College of California, spent one year teaching as a Lasallian Volunteer in Racine, Wisconsin and fell totally in love with working in the field of education. After her volunteer year she went on to receive her M.Ed. and credentials at Loyola University Chicago. She lived in Chicago for 10 years before returning to the Bay with her family in 2014. Jeannine has four kids, ages 13, 11, 8, and 6 and loves watching them learn and grow. She currently works at Foothill High School in Pleasanton, CA as an English teacher and feels privileged to be working with such intelligent and highly motivated high school students in her own community. Developing curriculum has always been a passIon of hers, and now Jeannine is especially committed to developing curriculum that is culturally responsive, inclusive and equitable for diverse learners. She is excited to take on this new endeavor of developing curriculum to reach the needs of next generation thinkers and workers.
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Stephanie Klixbull, Curriculum Writer
Projects: Artificial Intelligence in Aerospace with The Aerospace Corporation
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Stephanie Klixbull is an elementary educator who has spent the past nine years in the classroom, educating students in science, math, and engineering. She started her career teaching science as a Performing Educator at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Stephanie then moved to a formal education setting by teaching science and math for fourth and fifth grade students in Berkeley County School District in South Carolina. In 2017-2021, Stephanie taught a special STEAM class called IDEA Lab to students in preschool through fifth grade at Pinewood Preparatory School in Summerville, South Carolina. In 2018, Stephanie received the Max E. Lundquest Outstanding Young STEM Educator Award from the International STEM Educator Association for her work in early childhood STEM curriculum. She was also awarded as the state’s Teacher of the Year from the state of South Carolina Independent Schools Association, 2019. Stephanie left the classroom in 2021 to complete a national fellowship through the Department of Energy in Washington D.C. as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, 2021-2022. Stephanie was placed with the Department of Defense at Carderock Naval Surface Warfare Center. During her fellowship, Stephanie developed hands-on elementary science lessons and directed educator professional development relative to DoD STEM careers and the realistic engineering solutions centered around the Navy. Since her fellowship completed in 2022, Stephanie now works as the Elementary STEM Specialist, (K-8) at the Center for Science and the Schools.
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Kristina Latonio, Curriculum Writer
Projects: Cybersecurity with U.S. Navy
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Kristina was born and raised in New Jersey where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Rutgers University. After doing lab research at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Rutgers, she decided to move out to sunny San Diego and get her teaching credential. Teaching in the classroom since 2010, Kristina has taught high school science and middle school science. In 2013, she took a two year sabbatical to teach abroad with the BELA Education Group where she taught Biology and Chemistry in Panyu, China. After returning from China, Kristina worked rigorously to redesign the junior high science curriculum to align with the Next Generation Science Standards at River Valley Charter School. In 2019, she worked at High Tech High Mesa as the founding chemistry teacher and had the amazing opportunity to develop and implement project-based learning curriculum. She is currently teaching 7th grade science and a 6th grade engineering class at Oak Valley Middle School in San Diego. Kristina is passionate about making science accessible to anyone and ensuring her students become responsible and informed global citizens.
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Holly Levin, Curriculum Writer & Pedagogy Coach
Projects: Biotechnology Curriculum with Genentech, Expanded Learning Curriculum with San Diego County Office of Education
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Holly Levin graduated from San Diego State University in 2011 with a BA in Liberal Studies and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. In hopes of combining her passion of travel and teaching, Holly moved to Shanghai, China and worked at an American International School for two years. She taught K-2 students in a dual immersion program. This life changing experience gave Holly a whole new perspective on what if was like to be an English Language Learner, and the many challenges of living and working in a country where your native language is different than the rest of the population.
Upon returning to California, she began working at Aspire Firestone Academy, where she spent the next four years teaching kindergarten and first grade. During her time at Aspire, Holly found that teaching students to read was her true passion, and the reason she absolutely loved working in primary classrooms. In 2017, Holly made the difficult decision to leave the classroom and stay at home, after the birth of her first daughter. She then spent six months working with students with special needs at the Davidson Learning Center, until the birth of her second daughter. Holly has been staying busy trying to keep up with her 1 and 2 year old, but she has been eager to continue her career as an educator. She is so excited to be part of the Teacher Research Consultants Team and to have to opportunity to get to work with wonderful group of educators! |
Kimberly Lykens (Corrigan), Curriculum Writer
Projects: Space Textbook with Space Prize, Aerospace Curriculum with The Aerospace Corporation, Biotechnology Curriculum with Genentech
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Kim is passionate about making science curriculum approachable, meaningful, and equitable for all students. She has a B.A in biology and holds a master's degree in STEM Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Cincinnati. Kim has taught in both Minnesota and Ohio over the past seven years and she currently is an 11th grade biology teacher in Minneapolis. During her summer months, she has participated in research projects at NOAA Earth Science Research Laboratory, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in partnership with the Cal Poly STEM Teacher and Researcher program. Her favorite research experience was working on the Mars 2020 Sample Return mission where she investigated lab techniques for detecting lipid biosignatures in soil samples. During these teacher-researcher experiences she found a love for curriculum writing and has become a proponent of delivering quality curriculum that encourages students to explore content through the lens of a real-world scientist. For fun, Kim serves as her school's student council advisor and loves working with students on school-wide community service projects. She also enjoys hiking, cooking delicious food, and doing yoga.
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Gabe Ogilvie, Video Director and Producer
Projects: Aerospace Curriculum with The Aerospace Corporation, Semiconductors with SEMI Foundation, Cybersecurity with U.S. Navy
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Gabe Ogilvie serves as the Founder, Video Director and Producer of Made It Media, a video production company based in Orange County, California specializing in corporate and educational content.
Prior to founding Made It Media in 2017, Gabe began his career serving as an administrator for 13 years at a public charter school in his hometown of San Diego. Though Gabe departed from education to pursue his passion for film, education was an industry he didn’t leave too far behind–In addition to Made It Media, Gabe is also the Co-Founder of www.mpactplayers.com, an organization that specializes in team building tutorial videos and trainings to support after school programs. |
Meghan Paddy, Curriculum Writer
Projects: Aerospace Curriculum with Lockheed Martin, Semiconductors with SEMI Foundation
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Meghan White is an 11th grade biology and environmental science at High Tech High Mesa. She was born and raised in Huntington Beach, California where she fell in love with the ocean. Meghan attended Whitman College where she double majored in biology and geology and had the opportunity to research coral reefs, algae, and bioluminescent proteins. Meghan was a collegiate student athlete and as the team captain, helped her basketball team reach the NCAA championship for the first time.
After college, Meghan joined Teach for America and had the privilege to teach biology at Ace Charter High School for three years. Afterwards she moved closer to her family in San Diego and had the pleasure and privilege to join the High Tech High Chula Vista family and to teach the HTHCV scientists for three years. Meghan recently accepted a new position as the founding biology and environmental science teacher at High Tech High Mesa, the newest High Tech High school. She is excited to be a part of building the school culture, internship program, and STEM opportunities for HTHM scientists. |
Cameron Paton, Research Associate
Projects: Aerospace Curriculum with The Aerospace Corporation, Aerospace Curriculum with Lockheed Martin, Biotechnology Curriculum with Genentech, Expanded Learning Curriculum with San Diego County Office of Education
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Cameron Paton is a recent college graduate from Lewis & Clark College with a passion for research and teaching. Cameron currently resides in Portland, Oregon, where he works for Oregon Health and Sciences University as a research assistant in the Monk Lab. Cameron aspires to enroll in graduate school to pursue a PhD in molecular and cellular biology. Cameron has drawn from his experiences as an undergraduate research associate, a research intern working directly with teachers to develop STEM curriculum, and a research assistant in a pioneering neuroscience program, in hopes to one day become a research mentor for students at the undergraduate level. When Cameron is not working in the lab, he's enjoying the great outdoors in the Pacific Northwest or playing baseball, his favorite sport.
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Suzanne Pittock, Curriculum Writer
Projects: Biotechnology Curriculum with Genentech
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Suzanne grew up in southern California, and received a BA in Anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master’s in Science Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is interested in the interdisciplinary relationships among the sciences, and is drawn to how their interconnections help us understand the natural world. Her academic background emphasizes human evolution and osteology, and geochemical analysis of lithics. Her field research includes excavation in the Illinois River Valley and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry of obsidian from the American Southwest.
With 25 years of experience in the classroom, Suzanne is passionate about making learning accessible and equitable for all students, with the goal of reframing perceptions about who scientists or engineers are and how to become one. She is inspired by differentiating and scaffolding curriculum to provide footholds for students that support them along STEM career pathways they may not have envisioned themselves on. She has partnered with Oregon MESA for 10 years to create and implement curriculum for students in engineering design, and along the way developed a love for human centered design and collaborative problem solving. Suzanne began her career teaching middle and high school level Earth Sciences in New York City, and currently teaches integrative science and engineering design in Portland, Oregon. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys running, gardening, paddle boarding, and traveling. |
Kara Quinlan, Curriculum Writer
Projects: Space Textbook with Space Prize, Aerospace Curriculum with The Aerospace Corporation, Aerospace Curriculum with Lockheed Martin, Semiconductors with SEMI Foundation
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Kara Quinlan graduated in 2006 from Colorado State University with a BS degree in Natural Science and Physics education including three years of Mechanical Engineering. She has over 16 years experience teaching in Colorado and California, with more than 11 years teaching in Title I schools with licenses in Physics, Career Technical Education Engineering, and Architecture. Since 2006, Kara has taught courses in Physical Science, Robotics, Engineering, Metals, Drafting, Computer Science, Space Science, Physics and AP Physics. Kara was also the research physics teacher on a STEM grant through the Oakridge National Laboratories working on biosensor microprocessors for brain cancer detection.
Her passion in space and engineering led to a partnership with the Quest Institute facilitating her students’ physics experiments being included on the International Space Station. Kara recently completed a Masters in Space Studies, Aerospace Science through American Military University in 2021. Currently, Kara is currently an educator at Poudre High School teaching courses in Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace and Manufacturing. She is thrilled to inspire youth to look to the sky to engineer their dreams for the future and space. |
Jennifer Rollings, Curriculum Writer
Projects: Biotechnology Curriculum with Genentech
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Jennifer teaches biology and physical science at the Coon Rapids High School Center for Biomedical Sciences and Engineering in Minnesota. She earned a B.S. in environmental science and a B.A. in German studies from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, where she researched the impact of ecological disturbances on algal communities. After graduating, she served as a cultural ambassador and language instructor in the former East Germany, before returning to the US to complete her M.A.T. in life science instruction. Jennifer has taught in both Iowa and Minnesota and has been privileged to work closely with special education and English Language Learner instructors to make science accessible for all students. She is passionate about re-envisioning science curricula and instruction to emphasize equity and engagement and to allow students to explore important questions through a science lens. She also enjoys gardening, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and reading.
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Meghan Strazicich, Curriculum Writer
Projects: Biotechnology Curriculum with Genentech, Cybersecurity with U.S. Navy
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Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Meghan received her B.S. in Biology from San Francisco State University and M.A in Interdisciplinary Education from Santa Clara University. It was as an undergraduate that she developed a passion for research while working in conservation genetics. Her desire to make research accessible to young people led her to advocate for and create unique biotechnology programs, both at a small private school early in her career and at Los Altos High School where she has taught Biotechnology and Biology since 2010.
Meghan believes that all students deserve access to state-of-the-art science technology. She is on the board of Teach Biotech, a non-profit that aims to bring cutting edge biotechnology and science education to students and teachers to link classroom learning with real world applications. She's hosted teacher workshops, organized equipment donations, and has written curriculum with a team of dedicated teachers and researchers, reaching thousands of students in the greater SF Bay Area. Meghan values engaging students in bona fide research experiences to foster their confidence, curiosity, and connection. She involves students in ongoing local environmental studies, and she’s led them as citizen scientists to barcode rockfish and bee species in the Channel Islands. Most recently, her students collaborated with Kauai High students to identify and analyze soil bacteria in Kauai for potential antibiotics. A life-long learner, Meghan stays engaged in the industry. Most recently, she worked as a summer intern at Stanford University, developing tangible CRISPR-based lab curriculum for classroom teachers. When the opportunity arises, she can be found hiking in the Sierra’s, surfing in Hawaii, or tucked away in her shop, practicing her carpentry skills. |
Carly Sumrow, Curriculum Writer
Projects: Expanded Learning Curriculum with San Diego County Office of Education
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Carly was born and raised in beautiful San Diego, California. Even from a very young age, Carly knew she belonged in the classroom, so with that goal in mind she earned her B.A. in English, Single Subject English Credential, and Masters of Art in Teaching from San Diego State University. Carly’s journey in education led her to the High Tech High schools and she quickly fell in love with the inclusive, collaborative, and highly personalized project-based approach. It was here that she discovered her passion for diverse learners and helping students to identify, celebrate, and build on their unique strengths and gifts.
Carly earned an additional credential as an Education Specialist and was lucky enough to be hired as a founding staff member of High Tech High’s first K-8 in Chula Vista where she had the opportunity to help build a thriving inclusion program. She has spent the past 10 years as an Inclusion Specialist, supporting both the elementary and the middle school. During her time at High Tech Chula Vista, Carly has served as a mentor teacher, supported in the 504 and SST process, and presented at the HTH Spring Institute on How to Integrate Diverse Learners into the General Education Classroom. |
Matthew Waggoner, Curriculum Writer
Projects: Biotechnology Curriculum with Genentech, Cybersecurity with U.S. Navy
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Matt Waggoner is from Yorba Linda, CA and attended San Luis Obispo for his undergraduate in biochemistry and single subject teaching credential. After college, Matt moved back to southern California and started teaching middle school science (7th grade). After a year in middle school, he transferred to high school teaching biology, chemistry, and AP biology. During his time teaching high school, Matt also attended an online masters program in chemistry with a focus on education from South Dakota State University. Throughout his years at his current district Matt has also been part of the curriculum design team working to create units that align to NGSS standards. Outside of education, Matt was also a competitive swimmer and is trying to balance work and working out.
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Kate Wokowsky, Graphic Designer
Projects: Expanded Learning Curriculum with San Diego County Office of Education
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Kate is a multidisciplinary marketer based in Costa Mesa, CA. She is currently the Digital Marketing Manager at UC Irvine Beall Applied Innovation, as well as a Substitute Instructor for UC Irvine Department of Continuing Education's Digital Marketing Bootcamp.
She has a knack for creative direction mixed with data analytics, and a passion for constructing thoughtful digital marketing campaigns. In the past, she utilized her marketing skills in the nonprofit sector, craft brewery industry and e-commerce space. Aside from digital marketing, Kate enjoys learning and utilizing her knowledge of graphic and website design. Outside of work, she can be found planning her next travel adventure, eating popcorn or playing soccer. |
