The STAT Teacher Spotlight is a video Q&A series featuring great teachers who inspire discovery of the world through science. If you know a colleague with an amazing story, nominate them to be featured in a future Teacher Spotlight by emailing STAT at [email protected] with the subject line Teacher Spotlight.

Meet Chris Ham, a secondary science teacher at Frisco ISD. His interest in teaching started working as a supplemental instructor (SI Leader) for a physics course at Texas A&M. Through this experience, he discovered his passion for teaching. As a result, he enrolled in the aggieTEACH program to continue his career as an educator. His work in education is research-driven. He experiments with instructional strategies identified through scholarly work to best support his students in the classroom. He also works with professors to participate in future educational research. He spends his free time running outdoors and playing video games.

About the Host

Dominique Janeway is proud to serve as an executive board member for STAT as well as a Dean of Academics at the School of Science and Technology Corpus Christi Elementary. She has been in education for over 10 years, teaching science and mathematics to grades 3–6 in San Antonio where she received her Master in Educational Leadership through the Urban School Leaders Collaborative at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is a proven educator and administrator with expertise in student growth, development, and academic success. She is currently pursuing her Superintendent Certification at Lamar University.

In the spirit of science, discovery, and innovation, STAT and its partner Affiliates are thrilled to present "Funny You Should Think That"—a web series that not only addresses misconceptions in science but also takes a closer look at their earlier development and progression into high school-level learning.

The series continues with a presentation from Celestina Pangan, the High School Representative for the Texas Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers (TSAAPT), in collaboration with Kathryn Barclay, President of the Texas Earth Science Teachers Association (TESTA).

How does the Earth experience seasons? Does the Earth’s distance from the sun affect the seasons? What does the Earth’s axis have to do with it all? Build your understanding of common misconceptions about the four seasons, and discover ways to mitigate these misunderstandings in the classroom.

The STAT Teacher Spotlight is a video Q&A series featuring great teachers who inspire discovery of the world through science. If you know a colleague with an amazing story, nominate them to be featured in a future Teacher Spotlight by emailing STAT at [email protected] with the subject line Teacher Spotlight.

Meet Rafael Moya, the district chair of engineering for the School of Science and Technology-San Antonio. Rafael is a mechanical engineer with a focus on math, robotics, and aerospace. He was a migrant for the majority of his early years until he was 24. Being a migrant who would spend most of his time moving to several states in search of agricultural employment, receiving an education was not an option. Due to this adversity, he was able to appreciate the worth of his education, tenacity, responsibility, and work ethic. He became an educator, which enables him to pass on the ideals and knowledge he has received to all of his current and future students.

About the Host

Currently serving as the science and health specialist in Pflugerville ISD, Sara Hill is passionate about making science accessible and meaningful to all students. By putting students in the driver's seat, she believes all students can find relevance and personal satisfaction when they realize that science is just curiosity written down. When she’s not working with teachers, she enjoys being outdoors with her two kiddos and being a foodie with her husband.