Meet Our Team
Staff
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Jim Effinger
Workshop Faculty, Life & Physical Sciences Jim Effinger is a retired high school biology teacher. Jim currently is an adjunct faculty member at North Central College teaching science methods classes and supervising practicum students. He is a 1992 Golden Apple Fellow. Contact: effinger@aol.com |
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Sandra Flowers
Workshop Faculty, Primary Grades Specialist Sandra Flowers is a retired elementary teacher, currently she teachers 6th grade STEM scholars for Big Shoulders. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Benedictine University. Contact: s.b.flowers@att.net |
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Chuck Gress
Workshop Faculty, Mathematics Specialist Chuck Gress is a retired high school math teacher at Lake Forest High School. He is also a 2004 Golden Apple Fellow Recipient. Contact: chuckgress@comcast.net |
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Bill Grosser
Workshop Coordinator, Chemistry and Physical Sciences Oak Park River Forest High School Bill Grosser is a High School Chemistry and Physical Science Teacher. He is also an adjunct faculty member at Benedictine University. He is a Radio Shack Technology Award Winner, Association of Science Institutions Award Winner, National Board Certified, and a 2004 Golden Apple Fellow. Contact: bill.grosser@me.com |
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Ron Hale
Workshop Faculty, Middle School Specialist CPS- Stephen K. Hayt Ron Hale is a 5th grade math and science teacher at Chicago Public Schools. He has been nominated for a CPS DRIVE Award and a winner of the 2011 Golden Apple Teaching Award. Ron has also worked as an education policy fellow. Ron's recent action research work is concerned with the design of learning environments and curriculum materials for middle school math and science. His research aims to support learning practices including explanation, scientific inquiry and design methodology. Contact: Rihale@cps.edu |
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Louise Huffman
Workshop Faculty Director of Ed. and Outreach for the US Ice Drilling Program Office, Dartmouth College Louise Huffman taught grades 1-8 before retiring from public school education in 2007. In 2016, she accepted the role of Director of Education and Outreach for the US Ice Drilling Program Office. She also served as ANDRILL (ANtarctic geological DRILLing) Coordinator of Education and Outreach from 2007-2013. She chaired the Formal Education and Outreach Committee of the International Polar Year, 2006-2012. In 2013, Louise moved to Florida where she enjoys fishing with her husband and hanging out on sandbars with her two dogs. Louise is on the Executive Committee for a new international organization called Polar Educators International (PEI) that facilitates connections between educators and researchers and provides professional development opportunities about current research and global change issues. (www.polareducator.org) She is a 2003 Golden Apple Fellow and was twice recognized by the ISTA for excellence in science teaching. She is listed inWho's Who in America and Who's Who Among American Women and has published several articles and books on climate change and polar education topics. Contact: lthuffman24@gmail.com |
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Rebecca Kornack
Workshop Faculty, Middle School Science Mozart Elementary School Rebecca Kornack is a science teacher at Chase Elementary School in Chicago. This is her third teaching assignment in CPS. When not thinking up creative ways to teach Earth science and experiment with hydroponics, she can be found in a yoga studio. Contact: rmkornack@cps.edu |
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John Lewis
Workshop Faculty, Physics Glenbrook South High School John Lewis is a High School Physics Teacher and Instructional Coach at Glenbrook South High School in Glenview Illinois. He is a fellow of the Golden Apple Academy for Excellence in Teaching and has been recognized as Illinois' Outstanding Physics Teacher as well as Radio Shack's National Outstanding Teacher of Science. Contact: jlewis@glenbrook225.org |
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Carla Stone
Workshop Faculty, Science and Social Studies District 65 Carla Stone is a 6th grade Science and Social Studies teacher who is currently teaching at Martin Luther King Jr. Literary and Fine Arts School in district 65, apart of Evanston/Skokie school system. She has just completed her fifteenth year in the district after a successful career as a professional basketball player prior to teaching. In 2011 she won the Golden Apple Teacher of Excellence Award and is currently a member of their Middle School Committee. This summer she will be working with project RET at Northwestern and at Elmhurst College with the Golden Apple Scholars program. Carla earned her BS in Education from DePaul University and is currently completing her Masters in Educational Leadership. She has thoroughly enjoyed working with project AIM this year and has witnessed the endless possibilities and joy of how to enhance standard curriculum through the Arts. Contact: 312-221-7968 | cjstone33@hotmail.com |
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Melissa Talaber
Workshop Faculty, Mathematics and Science Specialist St. Nicholas Cathedral School Melissa Talaber is a middle school math and science teacher and STEAM coordinator at St. Nicholas Cathedral School. She is a professional development leader of the SEPUP Curricula and a Science Teacher Leader with Loyola University. She works with Catholic schools affiliated with the Big Shoulders Fund. She is a 2014 Golden Apple Fellow. Contact: talaber@stnickschicago.org |
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Howie Templer
Workshop Faculty, Mathematics Specialist Deerfield Public School District 109 Howie Templer currently works as a 5th Grade General Elementary School Teacher. During his teaching tenure, he taught 3rd-5th Grade, served as an Elementary School Math and Science Specialist, and implemented and led a Middle School STEM course. An area of expertise is integrating inquiry STEM experiences into Mathematics instruction. In 2011, Howie was a Golden Apple recipient, and a state finalist for the 2016-17 Presidential Award (PAEMST), recognizing outstanding teaching in the areas of Math, Science, and Technology. Contact: htempler@dps109.org |
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Fontane Thomas
Workshop Faculty, Primary Education Specialist Stephen K. Hayt, Chicago Public Schools Fontane Thomas currently works as an early childhood teacher at Stephen K. Hayt. He enjoys incorporating STEM as it pertains to primary students’ growth and development. He is a 2015 Golden Apple Fellow and this is his first year with Partners In Inquiry. Contact: fontane.thomas@gmail.com |
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Wayne Wittenberg
Workshop Faculty, Primary Education Specialist Wayne Wittenberg was a former 2nd-5th grade educator. He is an adjunct faculty member of Benedictine University and Aurora University. He has been part of the Golden Apple Science Staff since 1992. He has trained and implemented Problem Based Learning Curriculum consistently in his teaching. Wayne is an Illinois Presidential Award Winner He was also an Association of Science and Technology Centers Honor Role of Teachers, Glen Ellyn District 41 Those Who Excel Winner and in 2016 he was awarded the Educator of the year in District 41, Glen Ellyn. Contact: waynewittenberg@gmail.com |
STEM Institute Consultants
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Eryn Ambler
Primary Education Technology Consultant Eryn is currently a Kindergarten teacher at Butterfield Elementary School in Lombard, IL. She enjoys incorporating technology into her classroom to promote student engagement and 21st century learning. Contact: 847-772-2090 | eambler@sd44.org |
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Gloria Wittenberg
Primary Education Technology Consultant Gloria is currently a Kindergarten teacher at Butterfield Elementary School in Lombard, IL. She loves to use problem based learning in her classroom and has created a butterfly and sensory garden at her school. Contact: 847-744-0495 | gwittenberg@sd44.org |
Golden Apple Staff
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Mary Bianchi-Chlada
Golden Apple Foundation Coach Mary has taught Chicago Public School children - Head Start through grade 7 - general education, gifted, special education, on the west and the southwest side of the city for over 34 years. 5th grade proved to be the long-time favorite. Innovative ways and means led to numerous awards and recognitions, among these were from DePaul University, Outstanding Teacher for Implementation of School Achievement Structure, Michele Clark Middle School,1996; from Stockyard Kiwanis Club, in recognition of special needs inclusive troop, ages 10-17, 2003,2004; and the coveted Golden Apple Award, for excellence in teaching, 2003. Mary worked with our Scholars as on-site supervisor at De Paul for two summers, before retiring in 2010. She is in her 5th year as a learning coach and partner-in-inquiry with the STEM Institute teachers and schools. Contact: 630-271-9718 | mbia1951@aol.com |
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Laura Chomiak
STEM Institute Program Director Golden Apple Foundation Coach Laura was a former social worker for Catholic charities for 13 years. Now she is a mother of four and has been the Golden Apple STEM Institute Program Director since 2012. Contact: 815-325-0201 | Chomiak2@goldenapple.org |
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Penny Lundquist
Golden Apple Foundation Coach A 1986 Golden Apple Award Winner, Penny taught high school and middle school for 23 years before joining GA in 1992. She has also served as adjunct faculty for National Louis University and Northwestern University, where she conducts the seminar for each new group of Golden Apple Fellows on sabbatical. Her passion is supporting teachers as they implement inquiry-based instruction in their classrooms and share with colleagues what they learned through STEM Institute. Contact: 312-477-7522 | lundquist@goldenapple.org |
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Steven Walsh
Golden Apple Foundation Coach Steven Walsh has been a CPS math and science teacher, a facilitator at the Teachers Academy for Mathematics and Science, and has participated in archeological, paleontological, and fresh water field studies. Steven also has a background in anthropology and social studies. Contact: stevenj_walsh@yahoo.com |
Multimedia & Technology Staff
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Vivian Huang
Multimedia, Technology & Web Resource Specialist Marian Catholic High School Vivian became a 2011 Golden Apple Pathway Scholar and interned at Golden Apple Foundation's office for two years. In 2015, she graduated from DePaul University and joined the Partners in Inquiry Team shortly after as their multimedia, technology, and web resource specialist. Vivian currently teaches Mandarin Chinese and ELL at Marian Catholic High School. Contact: v.huang09@gmail.com |
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Tim Sullivan
Multimedia Specialist Morrison High School Tim graduated from Illinois State University with a B.S. in History-Social Science Education and a minor in Economics. In 2011, Tim was selected as a Golden Apple Scholar. He just finished his first year teaching at Morrison High School in Morrison, Illinois. In 2015, Tim came on board as the Livebinders Coordinator for the Golden Apple Scholars Program. As a member of the Partners in Inquiry team, he designs teaching licenses and weekly recap videos for all to enjoy. Contact: timothyjosephsullivan@gmail.com |
