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Meet Our Teacher Advisors

Our teacher advisors come from all over the country and share a passion for science education. We're thrilled to have them on board!

Catherine Andre · Collins Intermediate · The Woodlands, TX
Language Arts Teacher

Catherine Andre absolutely loves teaching Language Arts! This will be her 14th year teaching, and her 10th year teaching at Collins Intermediate. Her husband and her have 2 children: Daniel, 19 and Brandon, 14. Her classroom is an open and safe space for students to explore language, stories, the world around them, and how it all affects their lives. This is going to be a great year and she looks forward to working with Science World Magazine in her classroom again!

Candice Autry · Sheridan School · Washington, D.C.
6th-8th Grade Science Teacher
3rd-8th Grade Yoga Teacher

Candice Autry is an Oklahoman who relocated to Washington, D.C., where she has been teaching middle school science at the Sheridan School for the past 17 years. She has also taught middle and high school students ​in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Switzerland, and Argentina. She loves to travel, read, look at art and architecture, practice yoga, and cook as a sous chef.

Kathleen Charlson · Gilbert Middle School · Gilbert, IA
Sixth Grade English/Language Arts Teacher

Kathleen Charlson has taught sixth grade for 18 years in the states of Colorado and Iowa. She currently teaches language arts, but she has been fortunate to bounce between all content areas. She enjoys having the opportunity to read and study nonfiction and best-writing practices with her students each year. Her interests include traveling, reading, and enjoying the outdoors with her family.

Marisa Gourley · Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences · Sarasota, FL
8th Grade Physical Science Teacher

Ms. Gourley, an experienced educator with over a decade of teaching experience, started as a middle school math teacher before transitioning to teaching physical science three years ago. Her innovative teaching style combines technology with traditional methods, making her classes engaging and informative. Alongside her teaching, Ms Gourley is pursuing a doctoral degree, showcasing her unwavering commitment to educational growth. While her doctoral studies limit her free time, Ms. Gourley values work-life balance and enjoys spending her rare moments of leisure with family, friends, and her dog, maintaining a fulfilling life outside of her career.

Craig Hegrenes · Robert J. Elkington Middle School · Grand Rapids, MN
8th Grade Physical Science

Craig is starting his 30th year as a middle school science teacher, and he has integrated Science World into my classroom for all 30 years and counting. He thinks it’s a fantastic resource for any teacher! When not teaching, he is with his family and he enjoys many outdoor activities throughout the year. Fishing, hunting, camping, cross country skiing, and long distance trail running, ultramarathons, to name a few. If he is at his best, then he is able to help others be the best version of themselves as well. 

Aliyah Johnson · Alpharetta High School · Alpharetta, GA
Physics, ESOL Physical Science, Physical Science and IB Sports Exercise Health Science

Aliyah Johnson is entering her 15th year teaching science.  This is her 5th year at Alpharetta High School, where she is Science Fair Coordinator and Step Team sponsor.  She is a state-certified instructional and reading coach, with experience in alternative education, grant writing, and curriculum building.  Her passion is helping students make the connection between science content and their everyday experiences in the world. 

Mia Kang · Portola Highly Gifted Magnet · Tarzana, CA
6th Grade Science Teacher
Model U.N. Coordinator

Mia Kang teaches sixth grade integrated science to highly gifted learners in California. Over the course of her teaching career, she has also taught dance, social studies, and art. Mia is now working on her EdD at the University of Southern California and will be focusing on the development of leadership skills in young learners in her dissertation. She is also currently working on interpreting the NGSS standards for sixth grade through the lens of marine biology, since the study of the ocean offers many exciting opportunities for student exploration and inquiry.

Tricia Kearns · Maple School · Northbrook, IL
6th Grade Science Teacher

Tricia Kearns has spent the last 20 years teaching secondary science. This year she is using the OpenSciEd curriculum to engage students with the NGSS Storyline Approach to learning. She loves adventure travel and has most recently studied Geology in Hawaii, Marine Ecology in La Paz, Mexico, and invasive species at Acadia National Park in Maine. When not teaching or traveling, she enjoys playing flute and piccolo in a local community band and flute choir.

Malissa Lyons · Springfield Middle School · Lucama, NC
7th and 8th Grade Science Teacher

Malissa Lyons is a 23-year veteran teacher and North Carolina Teaching Fellow alumni. She has taught Science, Language Arts as well as has a love of reading and all things science. One of her most exciting ventures was attending Educator’s Space Camp where she had the opportunity to participate in training that many astronauts experience. She has a thirst for knowledge and loves exposing students to new elements of science that make it relevant and exciting.

Maggie McGillicuddy · Torrington High School · Torrington, CT
Integrated Science Teacher
Earth Science Teacher (UConn Early College Experience)

Maggie has been a science teacher at Torrington High School since 2003, the third generation in her family to teach there. She regularly uses Science World Magazine as a valuable resource for students, appreciating the adjustable reading level, text-to-speech functions, and the 5E lesson plan format. She is currently the coach of the THS Girls' Tennis team, has served as the science department chairperson, and is a leader in her local union. She has always been an advocate for students, teachers, and public education. Maggie is a life-long NY Yankees and Star Wars fan, is happily married with three children, two in college and one in high school, and likes to read, work out, and garden. 

Meghan Rice · Portsmouth Middle School · Portsmouth, NH
6th Grade Science Teacher

Meghan Rice has been in the field of education for more than 30 years. She has taught grades kindergarten through high school in a variety of capacities. She has also taken time away to raise a family, run a small business, and start a preschool cooperative. While she started out as a meteorology major in her undergraduate program at Pennsylvania State University, she has since happily found her way back to her first love—teaching science!

Christina Thurston · Community Christian Academy · Paducah, KY
Chemistry & Physical Science Teacher
8th grade Earth/Space Science Teacher
7th grade Life Science Teacher

Christina Thurston has been in education for over 30 years. After retiring from public school, she now teaches in a private Christian school. She enjoys spending time with my family and traveling.

Hanlynn Vahlkamp · Quincy Junior High School · Quincy, IL
7th Grade Life Science Teacher
Science Academic Curriculum Liaison

Hanlynn Vahlkamp is in her 10th year teaching 7th grade life science in Quincy, IL. She is a 2012 graduate of Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville. Over the course of her 10 years, she has become involved in numerous activities: coaching middle school and high school girl's golf, volunteering as a PBIS coach, providing professional development for the QJHS Science Department, and tutoring struggling learners. Her mission is to inspire students to not only learn to enjoy science, but to build a sense of self confidence and develop their abilities to collaborate. When she is not teaching, she enjoys spending time and making memories with her husband and two daughters. 

Rachael von Elmendorf · Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School · Falls Church, VA
Life and Physical Science Teacher

She has been teaching middle school science in Virginia for over 10 years. Through investigating key concepts in life and physical science, her students work together to understand and improve our world. Together, she and her students use science to answer questions and address global problems. She’s passionate about making science engaging, accessible, and relevant to all students. When not teaching, she enjoys going on adventures in books, riding her bike, and traveling with her wonderful husband.

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