Paul Tennyson, Surprise, AZ
Willow Canyon High School

Paul Tennyson is an experienced Biology, Mathematics and CTE instructor, teaching and also serving as a Principal in the U.S. public, charter, and private international school systems the past twenty-nine years. Paul received his B.S. in Biology Ed. and a M. Ed. in School Administration from Miami University, Oxford, OH and has taught Algebra at Willow Canyon H.S. for the past four years and will return next year to serve in the lab as a Biology instructor. Paul was honored with a Math and Science Teaching Fellowship at Arizona State University in ‘07-‘08 and ‘08-‘09, during which he developed a vision to form a STEM student organization, the STEM Clubs of America, and is currently collaborating with the Science Foundation Arizona to seek funding to establish Arizona STEM Clubs using his Willow Canyon H.S. STEM Club as a model.  

Sandra Trevino, Sierra Vista, AZ
Buena High School

Sandra Trevino received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arizona and is highly qualified mathematics teacher in Advanced Placement Calculus and PreCalculus/Trigonometry. She is a National Board Certified Teacher in Adolescence and Young Adult Mathematics and an executive board member of the Arizona Association of Teachers of Mathematics. Sandra was a 2010 participant in the American Council Teacher to Teacher Program to Russia. She served on the revision committees for Arizona State Mathematics Standards and the ACHIEVE American Diploma Project. Sandra has won honors such as the State Award winner for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Secondary Mathematics Teaching, Arizona Air Force Teacher of the Year, Best Buy Teach Awards, Verizon G.I.F.T. Fellow, Honorable Mention for the 2010 Governor’s Celebration Future Innovator and Teacher of the Year, and 2010 Semi-Finalist Arizona Teacher of the Year. 

German Robledo, Bakersfield, CA
Golden Valley High School

German Robledo earned his Master of Arts in Education degree from California State University, Bakersfield and is an experienced teacher of mathematics and mathematics education. He presently serves as a Geometry and AP Calculus teacher at Golden Valley High School and is a mentor teacher and workshop presenter for his district. German recently received a College Board AP Fellows Scholarship, secured thousands of dollars in technology for his classroom, used grants to start a school-wide intramural sports program and a district-wide Rubik’s Cube competition, and raised funds to cover AP Calculus Exams fees for his students. He has also served as president of the local NCTM affiliate and worked as a lecturer at CSU, Bakersfield. German believes students learn and retain more when they are active participants in the process.

Marla Utley, San Juan Capistrano, CA
Capistrano Valley Christian School

Upon earning a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Irvine, Marla began teaching Physical and Life Sciences at Lathrop Intermediate in Santa Ana, California.  She was able to participate in the community outreach programs, “Saturday Academy in Math” and “Math, Engineering and Science Achievement” through two Southern California universities and later taught chemistry and algebra to the children of the military in the Department of Defense Dependents’ Schools at Ramstein American and Kaiserslautern American High Schools in Germany.  Her position at Capistrano Valley Christian School has grown from teaching Biology and Introductory Science to include the responsibilities of Advanced Placement Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Honors Biology, Introduction to Physical Science and Health. The integration of technology with her curriculum through the One to One Laptop program earned Marla the nomination of her peers to be Teacher of the Year at Capistrano Valley Christian School.  From there she was chosen to be the nominee for all private schools in Orange County, California. 

Rachael Hughes, Thornton, CO
Meadow Community School

Rachael Hughes earned her Bachelor of Science in Zoology and Masters in Educational Leadership from Colorado State University. While working as a 6th through 8th grade science teacher at Meadow Community School (K-8) within Mapleton Public Schools, she has been involved with the district science initiatives, gifted and talented education, served as a science fair representative, and sponsors her school’s yearbook and newspaper club. This year she was a recipient of the Mapleton Education Foundation classroom grant for designing and building an outdoor habitat classroom. While completing her Bachelor of Science in Zoology at CSU, she worked as both a veterinary assistant in the exotic department at the veterinary teaching hospital and as an Honors Intern for CSU's Morgan Library, during which she identified, digitized, and created a wildlife database. She then co-published her work, “Managing a Digital Collection: the Garst Photographic Collection,” in Reference Service Review in May 2002.

Kristy Lathrop, Castle Rock, CO
Mesa Middle School

Kristy Lathrop graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education (Science).  Kristy is an 8^th grade Physical science teacher and Department Chair at Mesa Middle School in the Douglas County School District.  Prior to her employment in Douglas County, Kristy served as an 8^th grade Physical science teacher at Lake County Middle School, a rural school in Leadville, CO.  Mrs. Lathrop was recognized as the 2010 secondary education Apple Award winner, is a SMART Exemplary Educator, was recently selected for the Douglas County Digital Educator Program, and has been awarded grants for classroom technology and outdoor education.  She believes that the classroom should transcend physical walls and be rich with opportunities for students to apply their learning to real-life situations, thus developing skills for success in the 21^st Century. Kristy asserts that STEM education is the ideal vehicle in which to meet those goals.

Lynn McDaniel, Tampa, FL
Stewart Middle Magnet School

Lynn McDaniel received a Masters Degree in Gifted Education at the University of South Florida after earning her undergraduate degree in Education at Stetson University.  She has been the Lead Teacher at Stewart Middle Magnet School, a NASA Explorer School for STEM, in Tampa for the last 10 years. During her 36 years in education she has initiated programs and professional development, written national articles and presented at national conferences, and developed curriculum all with a focus on space and aviation. Lynn has written and received grants totaling almost three quarters of a million dollars.  She was the first American teacher to have the Russian Space Agency host her students in Moscow in 1990.  She set up the Gifted Program for the Department of Defense Schools in Germany in 1979 and taught gifted students in Tampa from 1990-2000.  The Florida Association of Science Teachers recognized her as the Outstanding Science Educator for the state. She has received many national Cable in the Classroom awards and was the Teacher of the Year for Florida for the Cable Industry.  NASA, Air Force Association, the Space Foundation, and Civil Air Patrol have honored Lynn for her efforts to promote space education.

Kathyrn Moore, Navarre, FL
Holley-Navarre Middle School

Kathryn E. Moore earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education at the University of South Alabama. While working in Georgia as a biology teacher and later as an instructional supervisor in high school administration, she earned her Master's degree in Secondary Science Education and her Specialist's degree in Administration and Supervision at the University of West Georgia. Among her outstanding achievements are her National Board Certification in Early Adolescent Science and her nomination as Teacher of the Year, earned in Florida while teaching sixth grade Earth science and eighth grade Physical Science at Holley Navarre Middle School. Additionally, Kathryn was selected as a semi-finalist for Santa Rosa County’s Teacher of the Year. She believes that students learn science best when content is current and relevant and allows students to use scientific inquiry skills to investigate real world situations.  

Patti Grammens, Evans, GA
Lakeside Middle School

Patti Grammens of Suwanee, Ga recieved her Masters in Middle Grades Education from North Georgia College and State University and is an experienced teacher of science in Forsyth County, Georgia.  She is currently the Horizons Science teacher for 6th and 8th grade at Lakeside Middle School, as well as the science department chair.  Mrs. Grammens is also the Science Olympiad coach for lakeside and has taken teams to the Georgia State Science Olympiad competition for the last two years.  Patti believes that science is best taught using a Inquiry approach.  "I try to give my students a solid foundation on which to build knowledge.  I also help other educators learn how to do the same for their students so we can continue to build a solid science-literate community.  I know the Siemens STEM Institute will help me to bring even more innovative teaching techniques back to my school and district." 

Kathy Mellette, Gainesville, GA
East Hall High School

After graduating from Clemson University with a B.S. degree in Forest Management, Kathy began her teaching career in science. She has been teaching gifted and talented students for 17 years with a focus on hands-on learning and environmental studies. Kathy enjoys challenges and participating in enrichment opportunities with fellow educators such as her trip last summer to Tanzania as part of a Fulbright-Hays grant, the Ossabaw Island Environmental Study with Gainesville College and State University and Keystone’s Environmental Institute. Ms. Mellette was selected in 2008 to coordinate Hall County’s Honors Mentorship Program, a career oriented high school course for high ability students that are placed with local professionals in career fields the students hope to pursue. In addition to coordinating the HMP, she has also developed a new course, Honors Directed Studies, for gifted 8th-grade students.

Liz Castillo, Honolulu, HI
Kamehameha Middle School

Liz Castillo of Honolulu, HI received her Bachelor’s degree in Zoology and a Master’s of Education in Teaching degree from the University of Hawaii.  Liz is an experienced middle school science teacher.  She also served 2 years as an Instructional Technology Resource Teacher helping other teachers and students to successfully integrate technology into the curriculum.  Liz currently teaches seventh grade science at Kamehameha Middle School which is in the third year of a 1:1 laptop program.  She has co-presented both locally and nationally on integrating technology in the classroom.  Liz received the honor of being named an Apple Distinguished Educator in 2009.  Liz is passionate about science and using technology as a vehicle to motivate students and prepare them as leaders in the 21st century.

Mary Dooms, Lake Zurich, IL
Lake Zurich Middle School South

Mary Dooms earned her Master of Arts in Teaching degree in Elementary Education at National-Louis University where she currently serves on its Middle Level Education Advisory Board. Mary is an experienced teacher of Middle School Math and Literature/Language Arts at Lake Zurich Middle School South and has served in numerous leadership capacities, ranging from the District 95 Education Foundation, to district curriculum reviews and middle school advisory programs. In addition Mary has presented nationally at three National Middle School Association Annual Conferences, and in November she is scheduled to present her classroom use of Interactive Fiction, a computer science approach to storytelling, at the 2010 NMSA Annual Conference in Baltimore. Mary believes rigorous, relevant, and rich content that is delivered in an inquiry or problem based learning approach engages students and maximizes achievement.

Katie Evans, Washington, IL
Washington Community High School

Katie Evans is a graduate of Illinois State University and has a degree in Mathematics with a Secondary Education emphasis.  Katie, in her fourth year as a teacher, teaches Algebra and Geometry at Washing Community High School in central Illinois.  She is an assistant Mathletes coach, freshman girls volleyball coach and is the co-chair of an annual charity fundraiser.  She is currently attending Bradley University where she is working towards her graduate degree in an Environmental Science STEM program.  Katie believes that participating in the Siemens STEM Institute “will give me tools to present concrete applications of math through science, engineering, and technology for real world issues that will spark an interest in my students.  I am excited about creating interdisciplinary connections for my students and I’m excited to share what I learn at the STEM Institute with other area teachers."

Neil Schmidgall, Glenview, IL
Glenbrook South High School

Neil Schmidgall received his Bachelors of Mechanical Engineering degree and Masters of Mathematics Education degree from the University of Illinois. Neil has developed a senior elective in his school that incorporates STEM activities throughout the year. His students begin the year designing, building, and testing robotic vehicles made with the Lego Mindstorms materials. After much curricular work with analog and digital electronics students end the year building digital circuitry on a robotic platform that must accomplish the completion of a rigorous course by utilizing complex programming. Neil also sponsors the engineering club that has built Rube Goldberg machines as well as an innovative electric vehicle. The electric vehicle earned engineering, fabrication, and innovation awards from the Convergence Education Foundation.

Penny Blue, Lyons, KS
Lyons High School

Penny Blue received a Bachelors of Science in Science Education from Northeastern State University and a Masters of Secondary Science Education from Montana State University.  Penny is an experienced teacher of High School Physics and Chemistry with a total of 16 years teaching experience.  She is an active member of several professional organizations, including Kansas Association of Teachers of Science, Kansas State University QuarkNet, National Science Teachers Association, and American Association of Physics Teachers.  In 2009, Penny was named High School Physics Teacher of the Year by the Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas section of AAPT.

Michael Looney, Mashpee, MA
Mashpee Middle School

Michael Looney received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Technology Education and Master of Science Degree in Communications Media from Fitchburg State College.  He is a member of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council in Massachusetts and serves on the steering committee for the Regional STEM Network at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Kaput Center for Research and Innovation in STEM Education. Additionally, Michael has established a local STEM advisory group in Mashpee, Massachusetts to establish a platform for educators, students and community members to collaborate on issues related to STEM education. Michael is a teacher in the Mashpee Public School System and a firm believer of the Professional Learning Community methodology as a way to support teaching and learning. For the past 6 years in Mashpee, Michael has taught Technology and Engineering to grades 7-12.

Kelli Hannum-Spencer, Traverse City, MI
Traverse City Central High School

Kelli Hannum-Spencer holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Master of Arts degree in Education from Central Michigan University.  She currently teaches honors biology at Traverse City Central High School in the Sci-Ma-Tech Academy.  Kelli taught sixth grade science and social studies for twelve years in the Traverse City Talented and Gifted program.  She recently co-facilitated a sixth grade Underwater Robotically Operated Vehicle team and currently is a staff facilitator and member of the Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools Consortium.  She believes bringing relevance to, confidence in and deep experience with science, math, engineering and technology is the key to her students' success in their community, personal and professional lives.

Mary Lindow, Battle Creek, MI
Battle Creek Area Mathematics & Science Center

Mary Lindow earned Master of Arts Degrees in both Science Education and Educational Leadership with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction from Western Michigan University. Mary received National Board Certification in Adolescence and Young Adulthood Science in 2000 and successfully renewed this Certification in 2009. She currently teaches Biology, Recombinant DNA Technology, Biotechnology, Environmental Biology, and Bioethics at the Battle Creek Area Mathematics and Science Center. Mary has participated in learning communities with a goal of redesigning lessons to make complex content expectations more attainable and relevant to all students, developed and taught biotechnology workshops for high school teachers, and designed manipulatives to help teach mitosis, meiosis, and recombinant DNA technology.

Ninoska Wiltse, Farmington Hills, MI
East Middle School

Ninoska Wiltse received her second bachelors in Elementary Education K-8 (with endorsements in Science, Social Science and Bilingual Education) and a Masters of Spanish from Eastern Michigan University. Ninoska is currently serving as a 7^th grade Social Studies teacher and an Instructional Coach at East Middle School.  Ninoska has received honors such as the Rainbow Recognition Award for her work with Diverse Populations within the schools.  Along with being a Fulbright Memorial Fund Recipient, which involved three weeks of study in Japan, she is also a graduate of the Galileo Teacher-Leader Academy.  She was selected to participate in the GeoScience Institute at the University of Michigan-Dearborn this past summer.

Nicholas Gross, West Saint Paul, MN
Heritage Middle School

Nick Gross received his Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Education degree from the University of Minnesota. Although his passion is teaching science, for the past seven years he has taught all core curriculum areas in grades 6-8 at Heritage Middle School in West St. Paul, MN.  Heritage is in the process of converting to an E-STEM magnet academy for the 2010-2011 school year.  Throughout this process, Mr. Gross has worked closely with teachers, business owners, and community members developing inquiry-based projects including one that focuses on the propagation of plants in a greenhouse.  He has also been a member of NSTA for the 2009-2010 year.

Mary Schulz, Eden Prairie, MN
Oak Point Intermediate School

Mary Schulz received her Masters of Education degree from the University of Minnesota and is an experienced teacher of middle school-aged students in Math, Science and Reading/Language Arts.  She currently teaches at a building designed for fifth and sixth grade students.

Mary believes that students today will enter an increasingly global world in which technology plays a major role.  In her quest for implementing a more project-based approach to learning, she has focused on how she can transform educational settings and practices to best meet the needs of a diverse and changing world. She has also participated in a MN TIES grant which has focused on a worldwide PBL approach using video conferencing. 

Sarah Streitz, Richfield, MN
Richfield High School

Sarah Streitz earned her Master of Education in Mathematics Education at the University of Minnesota and is an experienced math teacher at the middle and high school levels.  Prior to her current position at Richfield High School, Sarah taught at a bilingual school in Guatemala City, Guatemala.  Sarah believes that high school education must adapt to the changing needs of our society and that STEM education provides a foundation for fostering 21^st century skills as well as student interest and motivation.  She currently serves on the Richfield School District Math Curriculum Committee and served as the Math Department Coordinator at her previous school.  Sarah received the Math/Science Matters Teacher Preparation Scholarship in 2006. 

Gwynneth Wacker, Minnetonka, MN
Minnetonka High School

Gwynneth Wacker received her Bachelor of Science with Honors in both Botany and Zoology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and went on to receive her Masters of Education in Science from the University of MN.  She is currently working on her National Board Certification and teaches 11^th and 12^th graders in Environmental Studies, Human Anatomy & Physiology as well as International Baccalaureate Higher Level Biology at Minnetonka High School.  She has served as the District Department Chair and a Teacher Instructional Coach. Gwynneth has received seven Teacher Enrichment Grants from the Minnetonka Foundation, a Group Performance Grant and a Grant from the Durda Foundation.   

Nancy Fischer, Sainte Genevieve, MO
Valle Catholic High School

Nancy Fischer earned her Masters of Natural Science degree from Southeast Missouri State University and currently teaches physics, chemistry, human anatomy, and algebra at Valle Catholic High School.  She also teaches at the Missouri Scholars Academy, a 3-week summer program for 300 of the state’s most gifted soon-to-be juniors. In addition to the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching, Nancy has also received the Missouri Commissioner’s Award for Excellence in Science Teaching, the Solutia Award for Science Teaching, and the Science Teachers of Missouri Distinguished Service Award.

Terri Johnson, Saint Joseph, MO
Bode Middle School

Terri Johnson received her Master of Arts in Teaching Middle School degree through Northwest Missouri State University.  Terri’s degree came as a result of an intensive 3-year commitment entitled Promoting Reasoning and Inquiry in Science and Math (PRISM). This opportunity allowed her to master teaching through the use of inquiry methods.  She later became a mentor/coach for the PRISM II Program. She is a veteran science teacher who has taught 7^th and 8^th grade science as well as piloted 2 Inquiry-based Exploratory Classes for middle school. Terri presently serves as an instructional coach for the Saint Joseph School District. In this roll, she teaches, provides resources for the district’s middle level science team, and is currently leading her building on a journey to transform learning through technology.