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 McKinzie Sanders, who began her teaching career in August 2008 at Atkins Middle School in Lubbock, Texas, after graduating from Texas Tech University. She is currently teaching sixth- and seventh-grade advanced science and AVID Excel, an AVID class designed to accelerate the progress of English language learners. McKinzie has held several leadership positions on her campus, including serving on CPOC, on the literacy team, on the Curriculum Team, on the AVID site team, and as a Campus Academic Leader. She has been a mentor during New Teacher Academy and for teacher candidates in the Tech Teach program at Texas Tech. She is currently working as a staff developer and coach for AVID Excel. She is also the recipient of STAT's 2021 Outstanding Middle School Science Teacher of the Year Award. In addition to her role as a teacher, she is also a mother to four children with ages ranging from 3 to 11.

Christina Hotchkin is a high school chemistry teacher in the Austin area. She has a master’s degree in secondary education and a B.S. in chemistry from Texas Tech. It is there that she started working with educators and found her drive: making science fun and relevant for students and empowering preservice teachers to teach science. Christina is also a Member-at-Large on the 2021–2022 STAT Executive Board. When she isn’t chasing around her three kids you can find her curled up with a good book!

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 Brittany Schwartz, whose interest in science education was sparked while participating in CISER (Center for the Integration of STEM Education and Research) at Texas Tech University. After graduation, she joined Teach for America to teach high school science in Chicago and New Orleans. After 6 years, she returned to her home state of Texas and currently teaches eighth-grade science and coaches Science Olympiad at Adams Junior High in Katy ISD. She is passionate about modeling how professional scientists “do science” in the classroom. Follow her on Twitter.

Shane Woods serves as the Senior Director of the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas STEM Center of Excellence, which is a 92-acre living laboratory where kids of all ages can explore and develop their competence and confidence in science, technology, engineering, and math—all while cultivating essential skills, such as confidence, resilience, leadership, risk-taking, and problem solving. Shane holds a Master of Science in Education from Walden University and a Bachelor of Science, Biological Science from Xavier University of Louisiana. Follow her on Twitter and connect with her on LinkedIn.

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 Dennis Johnson, who has been a part of the Port Arthur Independent School District since 2011. He currently teaches fifth-grade science and social studies. Dennis has served in several leadership positions on his campus and in his district, including as a member of the Campus Professional Development Committee, as a New Teacher Mentor, as a District Curriculum Writer, and as the 2021–2022 Port Acres Elementary and Port Arthur ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year. Dennis also served as a trainer for the JASON Alliance of Southeast Texas. He is a proud member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and devotes time to serving his community. In addition to teaching and volunteering, Dennis is married to Dana, and they have a handsome son named Daniel.

Kenric Davies is a high school AP Physics 1 and astronomy teacher in Frisco. He has a master’s degree in science education from the University of Texas at Dallas and a bachelor’s degree in physics from Texas A&M University. Kenric began working with educators at CAST and fell in love with working with inservice teachers to help them teach physics. Kenric also teaches preservice K–8 teachers as an adjunct faculty member at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Prior to serving as a Member-at-Large on the 2021–2022 STAT Executive Board, Kenric served on numerous committees for the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). Follow him on Twitter.

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 Kimberly Glover, a fifth-grade science teacher in Sheldon ISD, who has always loved science. She graduated from the University of Houston with a bachelor’s degree in biology. Soon after she enrolled in an ACP program and has been teaching science ever since. She likes to teach using discrepant events or science mysteries to keep students engaged. Kimberly loves participating in field trips where students get exposure to real-world science. She’s currently a Noyce Master Teacher Fellow at Rice University where she’s developing her leadership capacity in the classroom.

Matthew Cushing serves as the Executive Director for the Office of STEM Engagement at Rice University (R-STEM) who’s mission is to build STEM knowledge, skills, and leadership by providing innovative high-quality Pre-K through career STEM learning experiences and enhancing the broader impacts of Rice University’s research. R-STEM accomplishes this mission through various professional development programs for educators, research internships for community college students, summer enrichment camps for K–12 students, and STEM outreach events held throughout the year. Matthew holds a Master of Science in Instructional Technology from the University of Houston Clear Lake and a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Houston. Matthew is also Secretary of the 2021–2022 STAT Executive Board. Follow him on Twitter and connect with him on LinkedIn.

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 Farkhunda Yasmin Azeem, who began her teaching career in August 2003 at Iman Academy School. After teaching for one year, she moved to Spring Branch ISD. She is currently teaching seventh-grade science at Spring Forest Middle School (SFMS). She has held several leadership positions, including serving as an Active Board Trainer for the district, a member of the Curriculum Team, an NJHS sponsor, and organizer of the multicultural festival. She has been a mentor for student teachers. She is currently working as the Science Department Head at SFMS. She has received the Teacher of the Year Award twice. In addition to her role as a teacher, she is also a mother to two children. She graduated from Bombay University with a master’s degree in textile chemistry. She spends her free time enjoying cooking, crafting, making jewelry, and other DIYs.

As Project WILD Coordinator for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Kiki Corry trains and supports the Project WILD facilitators across Texas. She has teaching experience both in and outside the classroom. Certified to teach secondary biology, she taught fifth- to eighth-grade science in the classroom. Kiki rose from volunteer trail guide to education coordinator at WILD Basin Wilderness Preserve, refining skills with volunteers and educational programs for a range of audiences. She chairs the Texas Environmental Education Advisory Committee, sits on the board of the Texas Association for Environmental Education, and is 2022–2023 President of the Science Teachers Association of Texas.

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 Texas Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers (TSAAPT) kicks the series off with a special presentation from STEM Experts' Cathy Barthelemy, a lifetime Texas Council of Elementary Science (TCES) member and the former executive director of education at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, and Karen Jo Matsler, Ed.D., of UT Arlington/The UTeach Institute, a former high school physics teacher of 20 years, as they explore misapprehensions about light and shadows. 

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 Texas Council of Elementary Science (TCES) and the Texas Association for Environmental Education (TAEE) continue the series with a presentation from Texas Parks & Wildlife's Project WILD Coordinator Kiki Corry, a TAEE board member and the chair of the Texas Environmental Education Advisory Committee, and Rockwall ISD's Elementary Science Coordinator Katie Braden, TCES Treasurer.

When is an "experiment" not an experiment? Take a moment to consider how we label the activities and investigations we do in our classrooms and explore how using specific language can set our students up for success and real scientific literacy.