NAUTeach Faculty
Sharon Cardenas
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I am an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Center for Science Teaching and Learning and Academic Program Associate Director of the NAUTeach and graduate programs (MAT-S, CMOST, and MAST). I teach fieldwork courses for these programs such as TSM 496C and SCI 508. Prior to coming to Northern Arizona University, I taught elementary and secondary school general science courses, provided professional development to in-service teachers, served as the Secondary Science Curriculum Specialist at Brownsville ISD in Texas and worked as a National Park Service Ranger. I have a bachelor's degree and a Master's degree from the University of Texas and currently working on an Educational Doctorate degree from Northern Arizona University. I enjoy helping students meet their graduation goals and letting people know about the great programs we offer at Northern Arizona University!
Jennifer Claesgens
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Jennifer is a graduate of UC Berkeley, Go Bears! She has been a high school biology and chemistry teacher in California, and a curriculum developer on a high school chemistry textbook, Living by Chemistry. Her academic interests focus on how people learn, what does it mean to know something, and how does understanding develop. Jennifer's outside interests include kayaking, skiing, biking, hiking, and camping. She hopes to see you in the classroom and in the great outdoors!
Terry Crites
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Terry has been teaching for 31 years. He went to the University of Missouri and graduated with a degree in mathematics education. He loves children and has two twin boys of his own. His favorite place to visit is Moab, Utah to witness the sheer beauty of the land. In his free time Terry likes to read, go to the movies, work crossword puzzles, and marvel at the genius of The Three Stooges.
Scott Fray
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Scott has been working towards a career in international conservation and education for many years. He received a B.S. degree in Wildlife Science from Virginia Tech and was fortunate to spend 6 months studying in Kenya as a part of his training. He always knew that education would be a large part of his career in wildlife biology, what he didn't realize at the time was that wildlife would end up being a substantial part of his career in education! Scott subsequently taught international classes (Tropical Ecology, and Cultures and Ecosystems) in Belize for San Francisco State University. He has since received two Master's Degrees in Education from Northern Arizona University and began teaching formally in both Middle School General Science and High School Biology classrooms in the Sedona-Oak Creek School District in 2006. In his spare time he founded Wonder Treks; an international science education company that has been taking students throughout Peru studying the trilogy of Ecology, Conservation, and Cultures. In 2011 he was recognized as a top-ten finalist in the Arizona State Teacher of the Year program. He was also selected as both the 4th-8th grade and the overall Teacher of the Year for Yavapai County. Needless to say Scott is thrilled to continue following his passion for science education here at the CSTL, and is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the profession on a larger scale.
Ron Gray
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Ron joined us from Oregon State University where he received his Ph.D. in science education in 2009. Before working in teacher education he was involved in biomedical research and worked for six years as a middle school science teacher. His research agenda centers on teachers’ understanding of authentic scientific practice and the enactment of these understandings in the science classroom. His focus in this area stems from his interest in the history of science and the science studies literature. Both provide insights into the nature of past and current scientific practice. He has also worked in Namibia with the Cheetah Conservation Fund as their education coordinator working on both local and international conservation education projects and currently teaches summer conservation education courses in Namibia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Borneo. Ron loves to travel and is excited for his two little girls to get big enough for their first international adventure!
Personal website
Shannon Guerrero
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Shannon has been at NAU for 4 years now, and along with teaching, her research and professional interests focus on using technology in support of mathematics instruction at all levels. Shannon grew up in Northern California where her dad was a middle school teacher for 30 years, so you could say that teaching is in her blood. She got a BA in Mathematics at Northwestern University, an M.A.T. in Advanced Mathematics at Oregon State, and a PhD in Mathematics Education at UCDavis after teaching high school for three years in the bay area. When not working, Shannon enjoys spending time with her family - her husband Rob, an OR nurse at Flagstaff Medical Center, and her children, Coby, Caitlin, and Jaxon. They do everything from baseball, softball, ice hockey, soccer, hiking, gardening, or just watching the kids scoot around the driveway on their bikes and skateboards. She is also an avid reader of historical fiction.
Jeffery Hovermill
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Jeff went to Greensboro College, University of Idaho, and the University of Colorado and graduated with degree in B.S., Mathematics; M.S. Statistics, Ph.D. Mathematics Education, respectively. With all his education, he has been teaching since 1992. He loves children and has two young boys of his own. Jeff likes to hike, bike, play soccer, and have family fun. His favorite place to visit is Maui because he loved living and teaching there and going to visit his secret beaches and waterfalls! His fondest memories of school are all graduation experiences.
Susanne Pyle
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Susanne is a native of Arizona, living most of her life in the Phoenix area until moving to Northern Arizona where she has lived for the last eleven years. Susan's degrees are from ASU (BAed) and NAU (MAed). She has taught secondary mathematics for 21 years with a focus on incorporating technology into her classroom. Susanne is excited to embark on a new challenge as a Mentor Teacher in the NAUTeach program and considers it a great opportunity to help students to become excellent secondary math and science teachers.
David "Ghostbuster" Thompson
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During his tenure as a physics instructor, Dave has been honored in receiving many awards and achievements including: being chosen as the National Science Teaching of the Year, receiving the Presidential Award for Educators, and being selected as an Arizona Teacher of the Year Finalist. He enjoys everything about the outdoors; hunting and fishing, skiing, kayaking and white water rafting, and scuba diving. In his free time Dave builds robots and is the head of the "CocoNuts" a competitive robotics team from Coconino High School.
Deborah "Juggler" Wolf
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Hola! Deb has taught elementary school, middle school, high school, and college students for 33 years. I have traveled throughout Arizona providing workshops to teachers who want to become the best teachers they can be. As a teacher, she has never thought of what she does as a "job," and rather wakes up to go to school, not work. There must be something truly worthwhile about a profession that you are still excited about after so many years. Deb loves the outdoors and has been a true "tomboy" all of her life. She loves fishing, bow hunting, scuba diving and white water rafting.