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Home > Participants > TeachersJoy Binda
Anica Brown
I have partnered with several science programs that enhance my teaching experiences for my students and myself. For three years I was involved with the Project Fulcrum program at the University of Nebraska. This program teams college graduate student scientists from the university, who are involved in various science research projects, with a teacher in our district and together we plan and implement science lessons. During the 2007-2008 school year, I was very lucky to be part of the ANDRILL Project Circle through Louise Huffman, Education Outreach Coordinator for ANDRILL. As scientists continued their second season of drilling for core samples in Antarctica, in our classroom we were making connections with other classrooms around the globe through the Project Circle online message board. We shared our ANDRILL activities, our climate and culture differences. I also coordinated the demonstration of ANDRILL flexhibit activities by my students at a city science discovery day at our museum in February. The experiences I receive at the School of Rock will definitely enhance the Earth's Changing Surface unit I teach in the fall. I have been married to Jeff for 34 years this July 4th. We have two sons, a daughter-in-law, and an adorable five-year-old granddaughter. My husband and I love to travel by car so we can stop along the way and see all the sights. We have restored a 1967 GTO and a 1967 Firebird Convertible, which we drive for fun. I love the ocean and my favorite place to visit and enjoy is Carmel, California. One other fun fact about me is that I used to be a clown and I entertained at birthday parties. I am thrilled to be part of this adventure and bring back all kinds of new discoveries for my students. Patricia Donahue
A few summers ago I spent two weeks studying Hawaiian volcanoes with Project Lava. Last summer I spent two weeks on an Earthwatch expedition entitled, "Mammals of Nova Scotia," collecting data to determine the effects of climate change. We captured and released small mammals, counted and collected scat, counted and identified trees, and built an outhouse. Now I'm hooked on these types of summer adventures. After School of Rock, I'll be on NOAA's ship Rainier mapping the Alaskan coastline as a member of the Teacher at Sea Program. I hold a BS in Environmental Protection and Management from Columbia University and an MS in Environmental Geography from Rutgers University. Earlier this month, I received an Excellence in Science Teaching award from Rutgers University's chapter of Sigma Xi. I've been inspired to pursue a doctoral degree in science education and hope to begin this coming year. I'm looking forward to spending time with educated adults! Cathy Hardesty
I attended the University of South Florida and received a Bachelors of Science in Math Education. However, I couldn't find a math position so I ended up in Science and am very thankful for it! I have been teaching 8th Grade Integrated Science at Hill-Gustat Middle School for the last twelve years and have loved every minute of it. I have also taught math, from intensive to algebra, and social studies. I like to keep things interesting. I have a passion for learning and strive to instill that same passion in my students. I know that I have the best job in the world! I have been very blessed over the years to have some amazing experiences outside of the classroom. I have participated in Marine Biology workshops in the Keys, attended workshops at Kennedy Space Center and Langley Research Center, went to the FDA in D.C., have flown on two Zero-G (weightless) flights, and was selected as one of the top five finalists for Florida Teacher of the Year, and now I will be participating in the School of Rock. Does it get any better???? Outside of school, I love to bike, read, be outside, take photos, cook, and relax with my two four-legged kids, my cats. My next goal in life is to sky dive... some day that will happen. Chris Kaznosky
As for teaching, I've been an educator for over 13 years after working in business for five. During my education career, I spent 7.5 years teaching elementary students in Jacksonville, Florida; four years teaching middle school (sixth grade science) in Elkton, Virginia; and the most recent two teaching Earth Science and a geology elective at Central High School of Woodstock, Virginia. Academically, I have a Bachelor's from the University of South Carolina, a Master's in Education from the University of North Florida, and over 30 additional graduate hours in the Earth Sciences, most from James Madison University, but also including the American Meteorological Society's DataStreme Atmosphere and Water in the Earth System. Additionally, I've attended the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Chesapeake Bay Academy and have completed the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers certification. As for awards, I've been selected as Teacher of the Year by my peers at two different schools and I am the current National Association of Geoscience Teachers Outstanding Earth Science Teacher for Virginia. Furthermore, I helped Elkton Middle School win Virginia Naturally School Recognition for their environmental efforts during my last two years there. During my "free time" at school, I sponsor the freshman class and the Backtracks Trail Club, our school's outdoors club. With the latter, I lead high school students on hikes in and around the Northern Shenandoah Valley and Shenandoah National Park. Outside of school, I like to spend time with my two daughters and wife, cook, camp, hike, and watch NASCAR and baseball. It is to my family that I am most appreciative for allowing me to attend this wonderful opportunity. Meredith Keelan
I moved to Texas in 1983 where I have taught for the past 29 years. While here at Van Vleck ISD I have initiated several unique classes to our curriculum. For the past 15 years we have had a marine biology class for junior high students. These students participated in the collection of water quality data for the Lower Colorado River Authority at 3 different sites. We also participated in the National Marine Debris Monitoring Project with Ocean Conservancy collecting beach trash and sorting it for ocean vs. land based debris. Currently these students are participating with the Bureau of Economic Geology at University of Texas in monitoring beach dune restoration. During this time I have instituted a 7th grade Aquatics class, where students go out to a local pond and conduct biodiversity, water quality and other research projects. The final addition is the building of a Pond, Green house and butterfly garden on the campus for our 6th grade students to learn observation skills and begin writing about environmental topics. These classes have now moved with me to the High school, where my biology classes take "beach trips" and continue the research. In 2003 I was a Teacher in the Field Participant aboard the R/V Maurice Ewing, which conducted a 7-week seismic survey of the Caribbean Margin. This was a truly unique experience living aboard a ship with 45 other people and literally working 24/7. In 2006 I was recognized by the Colorado River Foundation as an Honoree, and one of the only teachers ever recognized, for my work with students on environmental issues and our beach research projects. For me education is a passion and I pass this passion on to most of my students. Carolyn Kurtz
One reason I love this part of Ohio is our wonderful park systems, both metropolitan and national. I've spent many hours volunteering for the park systems, assisting with the yearly coyote census, as well as frog surveys, etc. One year I actually logged in the most hours for frog surveying—120+ hours and I really enjoyed it. I've also volunteered for our local Mobile Meals organization for the past 5 years as a grocery getter. All scientific disciplines interest me, and I consider myself a life-long learner—one thing I constantly stress to my students by word and action. Bird watching is a favorite hobby of mine, and I look forward to adding to my "lifetime list" while in Texas. I've been brushing up on the birds I'm likely to see there. I'm the proverbial nontraditional student—spent most of my 30s completing first a Master's degree in Biology and then a Master's in Education. I've been teaching Honors Biology and Oceanography at Stow-Munroe Falls High School for the past 7 years and I love my students and colleagues—just not the politics. The best trip I've ever taken was an end-of-semester 11-day trip to St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica for a Tropical Field Biology class at Akron University. We worked at a field station there. It was awesome! It was great to snorkel, hike the country, and see the real Jamaica and not just the tourist attractions. Our last night there was spent on the beach at a village reggae party; an absolutely incredible experience and I'd love to go back some day. I have a cat named Miu, and over the years I've rescued my share of other cats. I'm known for having a rather dry sense of humor, but I can be silly at times. I am so excited about attending this workshop, and my selection for attendance has made me a sort of celebrity around here. Mark McKay
My students are heavily involved in field research and competitions. I am the coach for our schools National Ocean Science Bowl, Science Olympiad, and Remote Operated Vehicle teams. We have ongoing research projects in the Gulf Of Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and hope to expand the project to include the Monterey National Marine Sanctuary. I have the greatest job in the world. Every morning I get to go and do real science with students who are interested and engaged. It never gets boring around here, and I am really looking forward to bringing more authentic science and oceanography to my students. Louise McMinn
Louise started her teaching career as a middle school special education teacher. As she spent more time teaching science, she changed to full time science instruction. She currently administers the after school program at Scofield and involves the students in many science after school programs. Her goal is to have all of her students become informed citizens, and to realize how science is interwoven into many aspects of their lives. Yolanda Morales
Stuart Perez
When not in the classroom, I'm a sponsor for Science Club, Green Society and Scholars' Bowl. Creating learning opportunities out of the classroom is an adventure for me. My students and I have explored caves in Missouri and collected invertebrates from nearby rivers. This summer I am taking several students on their first trip to Badlands National Park to study geology, flora and fauna of the region. I also spend time educating students about Kansas flora and fauna. My hobbies include hiking with my wife and children, collecting rocks and traveling. I'm also addicted to the Discovery Channel! I look forward to this opportunity and being able to integrate more ocean science into my classroom. Sylvia Petersen
She has done public relations and event planning in addition to fashion modeling in Ft. Worth, Dallas, and in Bethesda, Maryland, where she also taught seventh grade science. Currently she is in her ninth year as a seventh grade science teacher in Naperville, Illinois. She became associated with Andrill last year and was asked to join Project Iceberg, a group that has allowed her students to reach out to other states, countries, and the local public and hopefully make a difference in their views of our changing world. Her students have been involved with Andrill projects since September, presenting climate change/flexhibits at a countywide science teacher's conference, to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry visitors, and have participated in an IPY/Climate Change videoconference with other interested students and teachers from around the world. The students are also engaged in various venues dealing with climate change and global warming in the Naperville community. The students are currently producing a video they will be sharing with a local high school and different interested countries. When not involved with the students, Sylvia enjoys traveling to Texas to see her family where she loves playing with Avery, her 3 year old granddaughter. Traveling, all outdoor activities, sporting events, reading murder mysteries and visiting with family and friends round out her interests. Helen Peyton
I am thrilled to be a part of the School of Rock, yet I am not a newcomer to summer programs for teachers. I have also been privileged to attend the NASA NEW program at Dryden Flight Research facility, the Maury Project at the US Naval Academy, and the Research Based Science Education (RBSE) program that was sponsored by NOAO and Kitt Peak Observatories. I was blessed to be a past recipient of the Teacher of the Year award for the Omaha Archdiocese and received the Creative Educator Award from ConAgra for science curriculum. When not taking classes or teaching I enjoy camping and traveling, especially to national parks and wilderness areas. I have just celebrated my 32nd wedding anniversary and have four children ranging in age from 28 to 19. I also have a 3 yr old grandson that has captured my heart. Carol Richlin
While I was working in my BA in elementary education, I took a geology class and began my life long passion with geology. I completed my degree in elementary education and taught in elementary education 8 years. All this time I could not stop thinking about geology, so I went back to school to get my geology degree. After getting my degree, I began work in a private company working on a government contract. During this period I worked both as a geologist and a hydrogeologist. After the contract was completed, my husband and I moved to Washington State. While there, I attended The Evergreen State College and received a BS in Environmental Studies. I had the wonderful experience of helping design a Washington State Park in northern Washington State. In 1996, we moved back to California, where I started working for the Los Angeles Unified School District. I currently have credentials in Geoscience, Biology, and Chemistry. In 2007 I returned to California State University Northridge to obtain my Masters degree in geology. I have been fortunate to take several classes from the well known marine geologist Dr. Kathleen Marsaglia. I am excited to participate in the 2008 School of Rock. Betty Rodgers
Betty has worked as an observer on fishing vessels in the Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound, a cook in mineral exploration camps in remote areas of Alaska, a starving artist in Southeast Alaska, a teacher in Imperial Valley, California, a housewife and mother in a remote logging camp in Alaska and other jobs too numerous to mention. She has been teaching in the Pribilof Islands for the last twelve years where the Bering Sea is often the subject of investigations for her students. A week in Texas will be a welcome change from the cool foggy weather that is typical of a Pribilof summer.
Contact us at learning@oceanleadership.org. |
Joy is a pre-service teacher who
is currently working towards her BS in Geology and Masters in Secondary
Education. She attends James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and
grew up on Long Island, NY. Growing up on Long Island and being surrounded by
the elements of the beach has always intrigued her. Attending science camp as a middle school student further enhanced Joy's interest in science. Over the years, Joy has observed her mother's career as a middle school
science teacher, and eagerly awaits a teaching position of her own.
Since 2003, I (Anica is pronounced Uh-nee-sa) have been teaching 6th grade science and English/Writing classes at Pound Middle School in Lincoln, Nebraska. Prior to that, I taught 10 years in an elementary setting. I love teaching 6th graders. These students are so inquisitive about their world and have a strong desire to soak up all the experiences placed in front of them.
During my 15 years in government and corporate positions in environmental protection, I inspected sewage treatment plants for the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, drafted environmental law for the NJ State Legislature, and developed coastal and wildlife protection plans for the Marine Spill Response Corporation, the world's largest oil spill emergency response company. Then I went into teaching. Now I work twice as hard for half as much money! My "real world" experience helps me in the classroom where making science relevant really counts with students. This is my tenth year teaching Earth Science to 8th graders.
After growing up outside the
"Windy City," I moved to warmer Florida in 1990. However, it is not
the Florida that most people think of. Here in Highlands County, we
actually have more cows than people. I live in a rural city called
Sebring. The population doubles every winter and triples during the week
of the International 12 Hours of Sebring Race. Our latest claim to fame
is that we were within 20 miles of the center of three hurricanes in a six-week
time span. (Chicago doesn't seem so windy anymore).
I first got interested in the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program's (IODP) research after taking an oceanography class with Dr. Kristen St. John, a professor at James Madison University who has a long history with IODP. From this summer's training, I hope to be able to bring back to my high school students the necessary knowledge and contacts that will provide those who are willing the opportunity to conduct real-world research prior to going to college.
I am Meredith Keelan, born and raised in Westchester, Illinois. I graduated
High School from Proviso West, in Hillside, Illinois and proceeded to
Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. I graduated from Wartburg in 1976 with
a BS in Biology/Physical Ed. I spent the next year working for the Iowa
Public Interest Research Group at the University of Northern Iowa. There I
participated in the writing of the Iowa Bottle Bill which placed a deposit
on bottles and helped in preserving the Upper Iowa River from contamination
by a proposed feedlot.
Hello, my name is Carolyn Kurtz and I was born and raised in Northeastern Ohio. I love the change of seasons here! The snow can be a bit trying at times, but as long as you know how to drive in it you'll be okay. I come from a large family. I have four brothers and three sisters; 20 nieces and nephews total. Christmas = gift exchange, for obvious reasons.
I currently teach Marine Science, Biology, AP Environmental Science, GIS,
AVID, and Forensics in a science and technology charter school myself and
three other administrators founded two years ago. Prior to this challenge I
took a break from teaching middle and high school science and coordinated a
grant that provided science content and pedagogy training for teachers in
rural and small school districts. Education is a second career for me. I
spent a good part of my professional career developing analytical
instrumentation that is used in the environmental, petrochemical, and energy
production fields. In my "spare" time, I teach teacher and administrator
credentialing classes, specifically in technology. I also breed tropical
fish, scuba dive, spend way too much time messing with computers, compete in
martial arts, and I am completing my second Masters degree.
Louise McMinn is an eighth grade Earth science teacher at
Scofield Magnet Middle School in Stamford, Connecticut. She is passionate about science education. As her daughters completed their college education, she began to spend her summers engaged in professional development. She is
an Armada Project master teacher, and spent some time in South Central Alaska
last summer participating in the STEEP project. She has participated in environmental workshops in Colorado
and has explored Yellowstone National Park with the Lunar and Planetary
Society. She is also working with
Soundwaters, Stamford's local Long Island Sound watershed education
organization and the soon to be opened Connecticut Science Center.
I teach ABE/GED and SGED in mathematics, science, social science, and language arts to adults helping them to be ready for the national GED test at TVCC (Treasure Valley Community College) in Ontario, Oregon. My students' ages vary from year to year; currently my students' ages range from 16 to 65 years old. I have been teaching since I was a teen, helping people with their basic skills: reading and writing. I have taught throughout my education career. I worked as a research assistant at CEACA (Center of Academic Studies in Environment Contamination). I finished my Bachelor's degree in Chemical Agriculture at Queretaro University (Mexico) and started working as a production supervisor in a laboratory. I came to visit my mother and sisters in Nevada; this trip changed my life. I had a car accident. It took me out of my professional growth for several years, but not in my personal life. I have a wonderful family: a husband and three boys. We moved to the Ontario area when my husband lost his job in Nevada. This trip made another change in my life. We do not have relatives or friends in this area; we started over again. As I looked for work, I noticed that I needed to continue my education. Even though I had a Bachelor in Science from Mexico, that was not enough to find a job in this area, so I returned to school. I started over with my GED, and at that time, I noticed the need for bilingual educators at TVCC. This opened my eyes and encouraged me to pursue a degree in education. I started attending college while working at Head Start with young children. I received my Master's degree in Human Development with specializations in college teaching/teaching adults, parent/community worker, teacher certification in early education pre-school through 3rd grade (Washington Certification) (Endorsements: Bilingual Education, Spanish and English as a Second Language). I am doing what I love, helping others to explore and find the desire to learn through teaching. My favorite hobbies are fishing, camping, hunting, exploring, and learning from others. I love food!
I currently teach a new course of earth and space science at Pittsburg High
School in Pittsburg, KS. I'm certified in biology and earth science but have
primarily taught courses in biology for the past eight years. This
transition is exciting for me and has given me the opportunity to build the
program from the ground up. I received my BSED in Biology from Pittsburg
State University and recently completed the MS in Science Education program
from Montana State University.
Sylvia got her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from
Texas Wesleyan University and her Master's from Texas Woman's University. In the Ft. Worth Public Schools, she
taught junior high earth science, taking students on field trips to look for
fossils and "cool" rocks after school and on holidays. When she taught at North Side High School, she and her husband would take students on weekend field trips to the Big Thicket to study biology. In
the 80s, while taking time off from teaching, she had three adorable children,
Derek, Stefanie (Aggie'05), and Dustin (hopefully Aggie '10), and in her spare time she worked in her husband's dental office as a dental assistant and office
manager. 
I have just finished my 31st year of teaching. During those years I
have taught everything from 5th to 8th grade, but my
current teaching position is middle school (grades 6-8) science and math at St.
Bernard School in Omaha, Nebraska. I also serve as the coach for our academic team as well as sponsor for
the students that attend the city wide, regional and state science fairs. I have also served as the teacher
representative to the Omaha Catholic School board where I worked on the policy
committee. I most recently served
on the committee for developing the science standards and curriculum for the
Omaha Archdiocese, which covers the eastern third of Nebraska.
When I was young all I wanted to do was teach elementary school.
Betty is currently a junior high and secondary science and technology teacher in the St. Paul Island School, which is a small K-12 school with less than 100 students. In the past she has taught art, journalism, math, small engines and social studies when needed. She is also the technology and vocational education coordinator for the district. Her degrees are in biology and education from Eastern Oregon State College and she has done work on a Masters in Fisheries at the University of Alaska Fairbanks where her thesis involved the water quality of the lakes in Katmai National Park on the Alaska Peninsula.