Online Advisors are experienced educators who help Learning Center
users identify resources and tools in support of their professional development.
Learning Center users may interact with Online Advisors in the asynchronous Community Forums and via one-on-one
chat by accessing Live Support. See the Live Support hours of
operation.
Don Boonstra
Don Boonstra, NSTA Coordinator for Online Advisors, has thirty-eight years of experience
as an educator. Don has been a teacher, Math and Science Department Chair, Curriculum
Coordinator, Principal, NASA Education Specialist, and Coordinator of the NASA Student
Observation Network. Don is currently Lead for Professional Development and Thematic
approaches for NASA Planetary Science Education Forum. He also teaches on-line professional
development courses for NSTA. Don runs his own educational consulting business,
Sustainability Schools Consulting, LLC.
Pamela Auburn
After nearly 20 years as a chemical research scientist in the private sector, Dr.
Auburn began teaching full time in 2005. She holds PhDs in Chemistry from the University
of Toronto (1986) and in Education from the University of Houston (2002). She holds
seven US patents and authored over twenty papers. Her areas of expertise are catalysis,
material science, and chemical education. Currently she is teaching chemistry classes
at Lonestar College and at the University of Houston Downtown.
Alyce Dalzell
Alyce has experienced an eventful thirty-two year journey being an educator. She
has taught preschool through middle school, SPED, Talented and Gifted, regular and
alternative education. Alyce is a recipient of "Honeywell's Teacher in Space" and
US Space Foundation's Teacher Liason training programs and a graduate of the US
Space Foundation's Discovery Institute. Currently, Alyce teaches middle school science
and an engineering class during UCCS's Super Saturday Talented and Gifted Program
in Colorado Springs.
Sandy Gady
Sandy Gady is a National Board certified teacher entering her 18th year of teaching.
Sandy works with all grade levels as a facilitator of National Board candidates
as well as collaborating with teachers integrating 21st century technology in the
classroom. Currently she teaches Science, Technology, Engineering and Math in middle
school. Sandy is a successful grant writer and is recognized in Washington State
as a leader in integrating 21st century technology into the STEM classroom.
Sue Garcia
Sue Garcia has been teaching for 28 years, in four Texas school districts, from
4th grade through high school, teaching mathematics (20 years) and science (eight
years). She has earned a Bachelor of Science in Education (with a minor in mathematics),
a Masters of Education (specialization in physical science), and an Administrative
Supervision Certification.
Susan German
Susan German has 17 years of experience teaching math and science in the classroom.
She currently teaches math and science to 8th grade students in Hallsville, MO,
but has experience teaching from grades 6 through 12. She holds National Board Certification.
She has her BS- Ed in Science Education, a B.A. in Chemistry, a Masters in Science
Education, and is an Educational Specialist in Educational Technology with emphasis
on Learning Systems Design and Development.
Dorothy Ginnett
Dr. Dorothy Ginnett is a wildlife ecologist and science educator. She teaches science
at the secondary (6th – 12th) and post-secondary levels in both face-to-face and
fully online teaching/learning environments. Dorothy is certified as a Wisconsin
Professional Educator in Biology/Life Science, Environmental Studies and Broadfield
Science. As a curriculum development consultant, she has designed and delivered
four fully online graduate courses for the M.S. in Environmental Education program
at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, WI.
Tina Harris
Tina Harris is a junior high school teacher in Anderson, Indiana, where she has
taught middle or high school science for the past 23 years. She has also taught
college science education methods courses, both elementary and secondary. Harris
has a degree in Earth Science Education and is working on a doctorate in Science
Education. She is an officer in several science education organizations and currently
serves on the NSTA Middle Level Committee.
Susanne Hokkanen
Sue Hokkanen is a third year middle grades science teacher. Sue was awarded a fellowship
into the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy for the 2009-2010 school year and was
selected to be the Astellas’ ScienceWorx spotlight teacher in the spring 2010. She
has presented at workshops at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Sue
will graduate the summer of 2011 with a Master’s of Science in Science Education
from Montana State University.
Ruth Lehmann Hutson
Ruth Lehmann Hutson teaches all ages biology, earth science, chemistry, anatomy
& physiology, physics, and advanced chemistry at Blue Valley High School in Randolph,
KS. She works to build partnerships with science experts so her students can see
science at work. This year she is incorporating in her classes, field work as well
as traditional lab work as part of a Toyota Tapestry grant. Her students are studying
a geologic formation near Blue Valley High School.
Arlene Jurewicz-Leighton
Arlene Jurewicz-Leighton M Ed is an instructor and instructor trainer for on-line
science education courses, an e-mentor and facilitator for eMSS for new science
teachers and an analyst and consultant for science digital resource projects. Arlene
has facilitated over seventy -five sessions of science education graduate courses
for Jason Project / National Geographic. During her tenure Jason won the prestigious
EdNet Pioneer Award for excellence in technology innovation for science professional
development.
Patty McGinnis
Patty McGinnis has over 20 years teaching experience at the 7-12 level. Both her
masters and her bachelor degrees were in the field of biology. She has been the
recipient of numerous grants and awards including the Toyota Tapestry Grant for
Teachers, the Toshiba Foundation Grant, and the Paul DeHart Hurd Award for National
Middle School Science Teacher. She is an active member of NSTA, PSTA, and NMLSTA.
Caryn Meirs
Caryn Meirs, elementary teacher, works with gifted and talented 3rd to 5th graders
in a magnet setting and is a resource for enrichment and science content (grades
2 through 5). She is a veteran of NSTA conferences, web seminars, JASON Project,
GLOBE, and NASA training programs. Her current coursework includes studying the
Earth’s polar regions, LEGO competition robotics, field investigations using GLOBE
protocols, science misconceptions, and designing and building an organic garden/outdoor
classroom space.
Carolyn Mohr
Carolyn has taught science and science methods courses for over 30 years. She was
a school science fair sponsor, Science Olympiad coach, and chaired various committees
at the regional and state levels of the Illinois Junior Academy of Science. She
received the Illinois State Board of Education’s 2008 “Those Who Excel” Award of
Excellence. She is currently teaching science methods courses through Southern Illinois
University/Carbondale at the University Center Campus in Grayslake, Illinois.
Betty Paulsell
Paulsell is the Program Director for Science Pioneers in Kansas City. She taught
science for thirty years in the Independence Missouri School District and holds
a BA and MA in Education from UMKC. Paulsell is a NASA JPL Solar System Educator
and has presented workshops at NASA and NSTA conferences. Having created and taught
many online courses and received technology grants she is well versed in technology.
Jennifer Rahn
After earning her degree in geosciences, Rahn worked as a hydrologist for the USGS.
With an MS in information technology, she designed systems for online learning,
and taught information technology at several universities. Rahn is guest teacher
in several schools and informal education programs, and is working on an MS in Science
Education. Jennifer has her own academic coaching service, Morpheus.Academic, and
is developing curricula to support individualized, on-demand math and science learning.
Kathy Renfrew
Kathy Renfrew is currently the elementary science and math assessment coordinator
for the Vermont Department of Education. Before that she was an elementary and middle
school teacher for 30 years. She has been an active member of NSTA serving on committees,
performing duties as a district director, and reviewing manuscripts. Over the years
she has been the recipient of some grants and awards including the Toyota Tapestry
Award and Presidential Award in Science.
Patricia Rourke
Patricia Rourke leads professional development and moderates online forums in physics
and chemistry. She served as Science Chair and physics teacher, creator and instructor
of online physics courses, Woodrow Wilson Institutes Director, instructor for AAPT/
PTRA programs, leading teacher-moderator for TERC projects, and presented at NSTA,
AAPT, and VAST conferences. She sat on boards for NSTA and CSAAPT and received a
Sci-Mat Fellowship, competitive science grants, a Tandy Technology Scholar and is
a Presidential Awardee.
Wendy Ruchti
Wendy Ruchti has been part of the Educational Foundations Department at Idaho State
University's College of Education since 2008. She received a PhD in Education from
the University of Idaho in 2005 with an emphasis in curriculum and instruction in
STEM education. At ISU, she has taught several educational foundations courses.
Her research interests include elementary science education and creating collaborative
online learning environments. Before coming to ISU, she taught middle school science
and math.
Kathy Sparrow
Dr. Kathy Sparrow is currently an adjunct professor at Florida International University
(FIU), teaching Elementary Science Methods. She previously worked as a middle and
high school science teacher as well as the Science Supervisor for Akron Public Schools.
She was a Regional Director for SECO, served on the NSTA Board of Directors and
was president of the National Science Education Leadership Association (NSELA).
Kathy was also awarded the Outstanding National Science Supervisor Award in 1999.
Adah Stock
She has been a secondary science classroom teacher for both middle school and high
school for the past 29 years. Currently she is a mentor and curriculum writer for
elementary and middle school teachers. She serves on the NSTA Recommends committee.
She presents workshops for science teachers at her state science teachers’ organization
and periodically facilitates online courses for a national organization. Although
she grew up in NYC, she currently resides in Texas.
Maureen Stover
Maureen Stover is a space and science enthusiast who enjoys sharing her passion
with her students by teaching biology, chemistry, physics, and Earth and space science.
She graduated from the Air Force Academy, Class of 1997, with a B.S. in Biology/Aerospace
Physiology. After serving in the Air Force as an Intelligence officer, she attended
a post-baccalaureate teacher preparation program at Western Governors University.
Maureen’s family lives in Monterey, CA at the Naval Postgraduate School.
Kendra Young
Kendra Young is an experienced middle school science educator. Her educational background
includes a bachelor's degree in Education with extensive graduate coursework in
Instructional Design. Her master's degree in Geoscience allows her to incorporate
her three favorite science disciplines; biology, chemistry, and geology. In addition
to her membership with NSTA, she also holds professional memberships with the National
Earth Science Teacher's Association, the American Chemical Society, and the Geological
Society of America.
View Past Online Advisors