I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2001 with a bachelor's in chemistry and then again in 2002 with a masters in education. I have been teaching at Oliver High School for four years now. I teach chemistry I and PSP chemistry I. I was part of the team trying to create a forensic science magnet program for the Pittsburgh schools, I help coach track, tutor math for the EAP program, and tutor homebound students. I am a member of the Bellevue Central United Methodist church where I help with various outreach programs including a soup kitchen the last two Saturdays of every month. I also serve as the chair of the Pastor Parish Relations committee for that church.
I grew up on a fruit farm in North East, Pennsylvania, just outside of Erie on the New York State border. I take pride in trying to introduce new experiences to my students and allowing them to be exposed to new things. For the past 2 years I have participated in RET programs with the University of Pittsburgh allowing my students to approach problems as engineers using the design based learning protocol. I am hoping that the Quality of Life initiative will open another door to my students, one of open-mindedness and understanding.
Hank Sauer
I grew up in the east side of Pittsburgh, attended Central Catholic High School and graduated in 1971 with a degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.
I worked for a number of companies in fabrication and welding most notably I was Chief Manufacturing Engineer and Asst. Chief Mechanical Engineer for Fruehau''s liquid and bulk tank plant in Uniontown, Pa.
In 2001 I went back to school and got a Masters in Education at California University of Pa. Upon graduation I got a job teaching math at Westinghouse high school and the following year I started teaching all the Physics classes.
I have been married to Gemma for 3 years and live in Gibsonia. Both of our first spouses died. Between us we have 5 children ranging from age 10 months to 33 years.
John Tagg
My name is John Tagg. I'm a 6th, 7th, and 8th grade science teacher for Pittsburgh School District. This is my ninth year teaching for the school district. Since I began my teaching career I have been very involved with the local universities and after school activities.
At my first school, (Arsenal Middle School), I was a 7th and 8th grade science teacher. My extra duties included: after school tutoring, Future City coach, swim coach, soft ball coach, Think-a-Thon coach, co-operating teacher with the University of Pittsburgh, safety discipline committee member, and science lead teacher for the district. My new school is Stevens K-8. At this school I am the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade science teacher. My extra duties include: safety discipline committee member, daily monitoring and management of the lunch detention program, and the extensive work of Elect Student Works Coordinator.
For the past three years I have worked with Carnegie Mellon University. In 2004, 2005, (and now in 2007), I worked with the Steinbrenner Institute for Environmental Education and Research (Western Pennsylvania Brownfields Center). These three years of R.E.T. work (Research Experience for Teachers) has allowed me to be educated on brownfields as well as develop a Brownfields Unit. This unit is meant to allow teachers to educate their students on how to repair brownfields. During the fall of 2006 we held a seminar that gave local teachers information to begin educating their students on Brownfields.
During the summer of 2006 I worked with the Young Women in Science Program at Carnegie Mellon University. I also became a Fellow at the University of Northern Iowa. This fellowship became an extension of the brownfields work that I have already completed.
During this summer I have continued to work on my Brownfields unit. I also have the wonderful opportunity to start a new relationship with the Quality of Life Technology Center at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh. This RET has allowed us to become educated on Quality of Life Technology. We also have begun to develop new lessons on the technology that is currently being used and developed to help people with disabilities.
Vincent Vernacchio
Fifteen years of service in the Pittsburgh School District. Currently teaching Biology at Brashear high School. Professional research interests include science curriculum development and implementation, creating a framework to support national science curriculum, and integrating models of learning into instructional practice.
Sample Projects include:
Pittsburgh Teachers Institute 2007 - Published unit on scientific method. Research Experience for Teachers 2006: Co-developer of Design-Based Genetics Unit Research Experience for Teachers 2005: Lead Developer of Design-Based Unit on Rockets Math Science Partnership: 2003 Writer for the Science Curriculum Frameworks Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering: 2002 Co-writer of chapter for educational outreach module Pittsburgh Teachers Institute: 1999 Steering Committee Member; Published unit on nuclear energy
Michelle Weiss
My name is Michelle R. Weiss. I am a 6th, 7th and 8th grade teacher at Greenfield School with the Pittsburgh Public School District. I have been teaching for 6 years and the last 4.5 years have been Middle School Science. In addition to teaching Middle School Science I am also in charge of the Safety Patrol and the Elect Students Works Coordinator for the after school program. While teaching the selected Science curriculum for the district I have also participated in Young Women in Science, Health Rangers with Children's Hospital, various Science Fair Competitions as well as programs with the local Universities.
Over the last four summers now I have participated in Research Experiences for Teachers at Carnegie Mellon University. My first experience was working with the School of Engineering on Brownfields. This opportunity allowed me to take a great deal of knowledge back to my classroom to incorporate into our current Science curriculum. The next two years I participated in the Robotics Institute at CMU. This is an awesome experience that now only gave me a great insight to robotics and technology, but this opportunity allowed me to return back to my school and teach robotics to middle school student on Fridays. Now this summer I am really enjoying working with the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University at the Quality of Life Technology Headquarters. I have gained an increased sensitivity to those with disabilities and how through research and technology those who once homebound are now functioning in today's society.
I am really looking forward to teaching my students about Quality of Life Technologies and how they can play an active role in improving the lives of those around them, as well as to de-sensitize them to those who are disabled and the devices they use to function on a daily basis.
Stephen Weiss
I graduated from Point Park College, now Point Park University, in 1993. Over the past 13 years, I taught all levels of science from kindergarten through eighth grades at six different schools. I am currently entering my second years teaching fifth and sixth grade science at Colfax Accelerated learning Academy of the Pittsburgh Public Schools. Additionally, I served the Pittsburgh Public Schools for two years as a middle level science resource teacher. My responsibilities in this capacity included collaborating with all the middle level science teachers in the district to assist in implementing the adopted science curriculum, providing professional development at district in-service days and after school and weekend workshops, observing and conferring with teachers regarding their teaching practices, and writing district curriculum.
I participated in several professional development workshops to increase my personal understanding of topics I believe important to my students. In the summers of 2003 and 2005, I participated in research experiences for teachers (RETs) through Carnegie Mellon University, Johns Hopkins University and the National Science Foundation around the topics of brownsfields, watersheds and groundwater. I have participated in a workshop on Neurotransmitters and the brain dealing with the chemical causes for addictions. I have a partnership with Earth Force, an environmental education group that helps students identify environmental issues in their communities and work to find full or partial solutions which they then implement. I have also attended workshops about nuclear energy and nuclear waste. I bring all these experiences back to my classroom and my students participate in learning opportunities around these issues which they would otherwise never experience.
