1. Amy Brown

    2. Amy Brown majored in Biological Sciences at Michigan State University (GO GREEN!) and has been teaching at Avondale High School in Auburn Hills for 17 years. Her passion is teaching biology but has taught a variety of classes including Chemistry and Algebra. She is excited for this opportunity to participate in the Thermal Characterization of Composite Concrete research and hopes to implement it in her biology classes when students study ecology/human impact when discussing energy conservation and alternative energy.


  2. Andy Durkacs

    3. My name is Andy Durkacs and I am a mathematics teacher at Oak Park High School. I have been teaching for three years. I am new to Oakland University and the RET program. I attended Wayne State University from 2007-2013 where I received my teaching certificate and a BA in Economics. Outside of teaching I enjoy skateboarding, painting, and walking my dogs.


  3. George Bazzell:

    4. George teaches probability and statistics and a discrete math course to seniors at Oak Park High School. He has 15 years teaching experience and 15 years high tech experience in the telecommunications industry. He is also retired from the Army Reserves.




  4. Stephen Kim

    5. I am a high school science teacher at Grosse Pointe South High School. I teach Chemistry and Biology and next year I'll be teaching Forensics for the first time. I graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry and Psychology and completed my teacher certification there as well. I am currently working on my Master's degree in Chemistry at Oakland University.


  5. Vanessa Logan

    6. Vanessa Logan is a science teacher at Avondale High School. She has a BA in physics and computer science from College of Wooster and a Masters in Education from University of Michigan. Vanessa is passionate about integrating NGSS into her classroom and creating a classroom that all students can succeed. She likes to run, do yoga and walk her dog every day!


  6. Michael Motzny

    7. Following his undergraduate and secondary education studies at Oakland University, Michael Motzny began working for the Pontiac School District. Having been a former student of Pontiac himself, he took to working with the urban community with tenacity and enthusiasm. Shortly after beginning his career, he completed his masters degree in Educational Technologies form Central Michigan University. Through his 14-year career, he has been part of many programs within the school including head wrestling coach and swimming coach at Pontiac Northern/Pontiac High School, junior high school soccer coach, and most recently mentor for the Wings of Fire Robotics team. Having a natural interest in STEM learning, Michael has return for a second year of the RET program at Oakland University and looks forward to bringing these interests back to the classroom.


  7. Eric Thuma

    8. Eric Thuma is a physics teacher at Stoney Creek High School and also teaches astronomy at Macomb Community College. He has been teaching physics and astronomy for 20 years.




  8. Marissa Romero

    9. My name is Marissa Romero and this will be my first year doing the RET program at OU! I have a Bachelor's Degree in Natural Resources Biology from Central Michigan University and received my teaching certification through the MATEE program at Oakland University. This upcoming school year will be my first year teaching and I am very excited to share this experience with my future students!


  9. Kate Hojnacki

    10. Kate Hojnacki is a returning RET fellow. She recently graduated from Oakland University in April 2017 with a Bachelors of Arts in Chemistry with the Secondary Teacher Education Program. Kate completed her student teaching at Fraser High School in a 10th grade Chemistry class and a 9th grade Applied Biology Chemistry class. Kate will be returning to Fraser High School this fall to teach Physics.


  10. Mathew Brown

    11. Mathew Brown received his B.S. in Elementary Education (Science-DX) from Oakland University in 2000. In 2007 he earned a M.A. in Educational Technology from Western Michigan University. From 2013 to 2015 he was a participant in the Galileo Leadership Academy cohort, which focuses on teacher leadership through best practice. He has taught in the Birmingham Public Schools since 2001, at Birmingham Covington School, a 3-8 Districtwide school of choice with a science and technology focus. As a member of the RET program he will be working with Photovoltaic Integrated Greenhouses.


  11. John Prisciandaro

    12. John Prisciandaro has been teaching Industrial Technology, Engineering and S.T.E.M. Applications for over 30 years. John earned his B.S. in Industrial Technology and Education from Western Michigan University and a M.A. in Industrial Education from Eastern Michigan University. He also holds a Mathematics Minor from the University of Michigan, Dearborn. The first half of his career was at the High School level teaching courses in Power and Energy, C.A.D., and Automation/Robotics Systems and Controls. Since 1995, John has been at Birmingham Covington School, facilitating hands-on, project-based learning activities for S.T.E.M. Applications in grades 3-8. In this summer's R.E.T. program, John will be working with the Solar Powered Greenhouse group, integrating alternative energy to power and control a self-sustaining greenhouse structure.




Funded by the National Science Foundation through Award #1542333

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