Anne Marie Bergen

For 29 years Anne Marie has been involved in education as a university faculty member, elementary teacher, science coordinator, and environmental educator. She has created and implemented elementary science programs to include in-class laboratory experiences, field-work with students, and collaborations with the science community (Dinner with a Scientist, Science Fair, Elementary Science Olympiad, Passport to Science.) Anne Marie has provided professional development for K-12 teachers in the area of science and effective teaching and has served as the chair for the California Teacher Advisory Council for the California Council of Science and Technology. She collaborates with educators locally, regionally and statewide in the area of science and STEM education.  Currently Anne Marie is Science Teaching Specialist for Liberal Studies.  Her work influences and supports undergraduate science  and STEM courses for those intending to be elementary teachers.

My life’s work has been to connect students and families to the world around them by providing engaging and innovative learning opportunities in and out of the classroom.  I am so fortunate to currently work with future and veteran teachers as we move into an integrated STEM approach guided by the Next Generation Science Standards.

Honors Include: Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Education, 2010, Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence, 2006, California Teacher of the Year 2003.

Dr. Seth Bush

I am a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo specifically hired to address issues in Science Education. I am a proud product of the California educational system, graduating from Watsonville High School in 1990 and earning my Ph.D. in physical chemistry from The University of California, Berkeley in 1999. I joined the faculty at Cal Poly in 2005 because I wanted to positively impact the state of the science education pipeline in my home state. Since returning to California, I have had the good fortune to work on a number of projects that focus on this pipeline.

Victoria Dandurand

I earned a B.S. from the college of science and math at Cal Poly, SLO and an M.A. in education with specialization in school counseling also from Cal Poly, SLO. I have worked for Conejo Valley, Paso Robles Public Schools and Santa Barbara County Office of Education as a secondary school counselor and program specialist for migrant education. I am a proud wife and mother of two incredibly capable daughters with an interest in engineering and experience with the Cal Poly STEM summer camp 2014. I have served as a school board member for 6 years for Coast Unified in Cambria (4 years, participating in implementing the apple ipad and ipod program as a school board member) and Cayucos Elementary School District (currently having served 2 years of a 4 year term). I am also co-officer/business owner of two successful local art galleries. I am fluent in Spanish and have worked with Spanish speaking families in both San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties in addition to my duties as a general secondary school counselor and program specialist. I know the importance of understanding and appreciating all facets for success and I believe wholeheartedly in the work being done by CCSTEM. I would love to be a part of and contribute to the movement as a parent, business owner, educator, member of the Spanish speaking community and school board member.

Henry Danielson

Representing K-12 educational technology and Cal Poly Lecturer for over ten years in the Child Development department. He currently teaches a course entitled Adolescents and Technology. My current position as Director of Technology at Coast USD in Cambria for nine years has provided me with depth and knowledge of STEM related careers. Mr.Danielson has worked extensively with Lego Mindstorms, MinecraftEDU, Adobe Cloud and many other technology related software. Henry Danielson has presented all over California on various educational technology topics.

Patti Garrett

Representing K-12 Education, over the past 7 years Patti has been the Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Educational Technology for the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education. She has experience as a K-8 and Middle School Principal, Educational Technology Senior Coordinator for 5 years and a 1st – 6th grade elementary school teacher for 12 years. The majority of her classroom years were spent teaching math and science.  Patti was co-chair of the P-16 STEM Steering Committee and has been a CCSTEM Advisory Committee member since its formation.  Patti was chair of the SLO P-16 STEM Initiative that was the catalyst for the CCSTEM Education Collaborative.  She was a member of the planning committee that established the first countywide STEM stakeholder conference that has evolved into the CCSTEM Collaborative.  She is currently a member of the following CCSTEM committees:  Co-Chair CCSTEM Governing Board, Family Science and Science After Dark.  She is a regional lead on our State Science Curriculum Instruction Steering Committee representing SLO, Kern, Ventura, and Santa Barbara Counties.

Dawn Hinchman

In addition to representing non-profit organizations and the community on the CCSTEM board the last two years, I also currently serve as Corporate Relations Director for the Lucia Mar Foundation for Innovation, and on the Business and Youth Councils of the SLO County Workforce Investment Board. Prior to that, I served two terms on the Lucia Mar Unified School District Board of Trustees. I am an advocate/activist for career technical and STEM education, and have enjoyed coordinating the successful “Science After Dark” series that last two years. I graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in Business Administration/Accounting.

Steve Kliewer

Representing Engineering and Science Education, Steve has a great variety of experience in science and engineering careers as well as classroom experience teaching physics, chemistry, engineering, astronomy, and math in both K12 as well as community college.  He has a BS in Physics from California State University, Fresno and advanced work at UCLA and UCSC.   He offers STEM workshops for teachers encouraging and preparing teachers for the new CCSS and NGSS standards.   He also sponsors and coordinates several large interscholastic STEM events each year.   Balloon Fest and Family Science Nights are examples.

George Pudlo

I am an Architect who was sent to SLO by Bechtel in 1985 to work on the facilities at Diablo Canyon.  Upon completion of the project, I decided to make SLO my home.

I have 35 years of international experience in the USA, Canada, United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia invoving planning, architectural design, project management and construction. Major emplyment durations, twenty years with Bechtel and elenen years with CSDA Architects where I was promoted to partner.

My goal as an Architect and STEM Board Member will be to transition STEM education concepts into a functional  teaching environment.  We will design and create the appropriate spaces to serve the new educational models.  Beginning with the understanding of an “educational specification”, we will present how physical facilities can be created to best serve educational goals in context of 21st Century Learning Environments.  The design process will differentiate the new classroom, lab, corridor, exterior spaces, storage etc. from the traditioan spaces.  We will address the use of buildings as educational tools, adapting existing existing spaces and being prepared for change.

Julie Reil

B.S. in Business, with a Concentration in Accounting.  Interested in Science and Education.  Member of CCSTEM since 2011.  Currently the Treasurer of CCSTEM.  Parent of a Scientist/Engineer and of an Artist.

Kathleen Schwind

Kathleen Schwind is a Senior at Arroyo Grande High School. She is the current Associated Student Body President, having served as Treasurer and Public Relations Commissioner in prior years. Kathleen is serving her third year as the AGHS Student Representative to the LMUSD School Board. Kathleen was chosen Communications Director for the California Association of Student Leaders (CASL), a statewide high school leadership forum. She travels the state with the CASL State Board giving a presentation titled “EXpanding Your Vision” to student leadership conferences. Kathleen was inspired in the third grade by a STEM advocate’s Astronomy/Aerospace presentation in her Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) class. Since that time she has pursued the sciences, and inspired others to pursue academic excellence through a unique, annual, academic competition she directs called the GATE Olympics. In 2013, Kathleen was approved by the Department of Energy to create and run the first ever Central Coast Regional Middle School Science Bowl, a regional science and math tournament that feeds the DOE’s National Science Bowl. In May of 2014, Kathleen traveled to Washington DC where she assisted in the production of the 2014 National Science Bowl. She has been approved again in 2014/15 to run the Central Coast tournament which now attracts schools from Monterey to San Diego County. Kathleen is hoping to attend college where she will pursue her interests in Aeronautical Engineering and Leadership.

Heather Tarango

I have worked for Pacific Gas and Electric – Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant (DCPP) for eight years.  I graduated from the now Missouri University of Science and Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering.  While I have lived several places across the U.S., I claim the Southeast of Missouri as the place I was raised.  The schools I attended for primary and secondary education did not make science or math “fun”, yet I loved learning those areas!  Since I was told my whole life I would be an engineer, I went to an all engineering campus and chose nuclear engineering at random.  The opportunity came up through my company to volunteer with children, weather balloons, and scientific experiments.  Wow!  CCSTEM and the Endeavour Institute have allowed me an opportunity to interact with both teachers and students.  I have been an advocate for STEM seeing the need to get children especially girls interested at an early age!  I am on the DCPP chapter’s board of two national organizations, Women in Nuclear (WIN) and North American Young Generation Nuclear (NAYGN), whose main objective is STEM!  This affords me the opportunity to represent PG&E, NAYGN, and WIN in our local schools and other activities.  I have the pleasure of organizing and professionally developing employees of DCPP to attend and/or support these events.  I also interact with the Central Coast chapter of Society of Women Engineers (SWE) which also encourages STEM in our schools.  I am proud to work for a company that supports opportunities for STEM outreach.

Traci Theis

Representing K-12 Education, over the past two school years Traci has been the Senior Coordinator for Educational Technology and Mathematics for the the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education. For over ten years she worked in STEM education as a math, science, technology teacher. She also served as the Cooridnator for MESA (Math, Engineering, Science Achievement) and taught classes and offered an afterschool MESA club for middle school students. In 2012, she  completed her Certification as a Chief Technology Officer through the California Educational Technology Professional Association (CEPTA) CTO Mentor Program. She has worked as a coordinator and served on many committees that help support students to have opportunities to attend college in STEM areas. Currently she helps the eleven local school districts in San Luis Obispo County with educational technology and common core math support.

Alexis Waite

Alexis Waite is currently enrolled in her senior year at Arroyo Grande High School. In addition to taking Advanced Placement Courses, Alexis works part-time as a Junior Engineering Draftsperson at a structural engineering firm in San Luis Obispo. In the past, Alexis has been involved in various clubs and activities such as Varsity Softball, FIRST FRC Robotics, and student government. Her experiences from leading teammates on the field, during robotics competitions, and in school activities lends well to her desire to promote a focus in science, technology, engineering, and math. Alexis also enjoys volunteering at STEM events such as the Science Bowl and G.A.T.E. Olympics put on by Kathleen Schwind in the local area. Recently, Alexis achieved her goal of being admitted into the college of her dreams, California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo, to study Architectural Engineering. With this degree Alexis hopes to become a licensed Structural Engineer so that she can help design schools, colleges, homes, and small-scale public buildings.