SATURDAY SCIENCE STAFF2011-2012 |
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Dr. Jack Holt |
Dr. Jack Holt is a professor of biology at Susquehanna University. He began teaching at the collegiate level as a graduate student in 1973 and joined the faculty at Susquehanna in 1981, though he has been a student all of his life. Dr. Holt has been active with Saturday Science since 1988 when he created the program after being approached by a Methodist minister to provide a summer science experience for the community. He notes that "the synergy between community science and classroom science was powerful and began to include others in the program. Patricia Nelson, then head of Education at SU, teamed up with me and managed to get funding through PA Space Grant for the program in 1993. Now, the program serves the community and pre-service teachers at SU." Dr. Holt loves learning through the Saturday Science program and thoroughly enjoys meeting the wonderful people involved. He would also like to share that "the success of the program has been due to a whole string of dedicated participants and faculty (especially Brenda Bartlett)." |
Brenda
Bartlett, NBCT
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Brenda Bartlett currently teaches elementary school and has been involved with Saturday Science since her time as a student at Susquehanna University. Brenda began her collegiate education at Susquehanna where she earned her B.S. in Education before earning her Master of Science in Geoscience from Mississippi State University. Her love for learning has allowed her to continue her education through Science Workshops for Educators at Penn States during the summer. She then jumped into teaching at the 8th grade level as a science teacher for six years before making the change to elementary education. She also has recently earned National Board Certification in Early Adolescent Science. This is a great honor due to the high standards and knowledge needed to achieve accredidation, but she has become a better teacher because of it and is able to apply her certification to enhance the Saturday Science program! She first got involved with Saturday Science in 1999 when her professor, Dr. Holt, asked if she would be interested in helping with a weekend science program. The experience she had while helping with Saturday Science helped her determine that she wanted to teach science as a career and she continues to work with the program to ensure its success. "I love learning right alongside the students and families each week!" |
Dr. Jennifer
Elick
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Dr. Jennifer Elick is an Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Susquehanna University as well as a Geologist. In 1993, Dr. Elick received her BS in geology from Temple University and then continued to study in that field earning her MS in geology/paleocology from Kansas State University in 1995 and her PhD in geology from Kansas State University in 1999. She continued in the world of education in 2000 when she accepted a teaching position at Dickinson College but left shortly after in 2001 to teach here at Susquehanna University. Dr. Elick has been involved with Saturday Sciecne ever since beginning at Susquehanna. She got involved with the program because she recognizes the importance of science education and how beneficial the program is to youth and the parents alike. Her favorite thing about the program is how it is constructed - students and parents get involved and learn by doing, experiencing, participating, and observing. She loves "the chaos and multifaceted way how we approach science and different subjects" and hopes to start a similar program for older adults because curiosity should be encouraged no matter how old a person is! |
Dr. Anne
Reeves
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Dr. Anne Reeves is the Head of the Education Department at Susquehanna University. She has been involved with Saturday Science since 2006. She began her teaching career in California where she earned her teaching credential and then continued in her education at the University of Michigan to obtain her doctorate. Before teaching at the collegiate level, Dr. Reeves enjoyed her time teaching both middle- and high-school. "As a teacher-educator at SU, I need to connect our education students with this opportunity to participate in science learning that occurs in a natural, student-centered way. Also, I love hands-on science myself!" Her favorite part of the program is how the knowledge and enthusiasm that Dr. Jack Holt and Brenda Bartlett posess are "shared with people of all ages and walks of life." |
Dr. David McLaughlin
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Dr. David McLaughlin is an Assitant Professor in the Department of Education at Susquehanna University. He is excited about Saturday Science because this is his first year being involved with the program. Dr. McLaughlin attended the University of Western Ontario for undergraduate studies where he earned his Bachelor of Science and then continued to earn his Bachelor of Education at Queens University. He then donned the green and white as he attended Michigan State University to earn his M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction and Ph.D. in Teacher Education. Before joining the staff at Susquehanna, he taught science and mathematics at the middle- and high-school level for 13 years. His involvement in Saturday Science includes coordinating with the SU preservice teacher education program in which SU students organize and facilitate Saturday Science activities for the participants. "I enjoy the chance to meet local parents and children in an informal learning environment. I also appreciate the opportunity for me to learn new science concepts and activities!" |
Erin Antrim
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Erin Antrim is a senior Elementary and Early Childhood Education major at Susquehanna University. She is also pursuing a Theater minor. This Emmaus High School graduate wants to live and teach kindergarten or 1st grade in the Lehigh Valley. She has been involved with Saturday Science since the fall of 2010 when she taught phases of the moon as a part of a class assignment. She loved the program and has been involved ever since. Erin especially loves that the students are able to explore science outside of the traditional classroom and they get to do so right alongside their parents. |
Jessica Ranck
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Jessica Ranck is a junior Biology-Secondary Education major at Susquehanna. She is also pursuing minors in chemistry and Spanish and is involved in the Honors Program. Her plan is to teach high- or middle-school science. This is Jessica's second year with Saturday Science. She really enjoys helping behind the scenes and seeing how everything comes together during the program. The opportunity to explore science is so valuable to younger students, and she is incredibly thankful for the opportunity to be involved with such a wonderful program. |
