Board Members
Officers
President:
Gina Patricia Saenz, M.D., M.Ed.
Dr. Gina Patricia Saenz currently works on Pharr San Juan Alamo ISD as the Dean of Instruction of LBJ Middle School. She was the former Secondary Science Coordinator of the PSJA ISD district. Before joining the PSJA ISD, Dr. Saenz worked at Region One ESC as a Science Specialist. Dr. Saenz has a Medical Degree from the UANL in Nuevo Leon, Mexico (2001) and a Master degree on Secondary Education from UTPA (2006).
Before becoming an administrator, Dr. Saenz taught Biology, Integrated Physics & Chemistry, and 7th Grade Science at Rio Grande City CISD. She is also an alumni for NASA Lift Off and has served as a judge of the NASA STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) high school internship.
President Elect
Mr. Andres Leal is currently an Orchestra Head Director for Kennedy Middle School, PSJA ISD. He started with RGVSA as our community board member participating in all science outreach events. He has embraced the mission of RGVSA and now serves as secretary.
Treasurer
Mrs. Janie Leal, M.Ed.
Mrs. Janie Leal is currently an 8th grade science teacher at Austin Middle School and district curriculum writer for PSJA ISD. Ms. Leal is currently also a curriculum writer for Summit K-12.
Secretary
Mrs. Gianna Colson, M.Ed.
Mrs. Gianna Colson is currently an assistant principal at Harmony Science Academy. Prior to this, Gianna was a 5th & 6th grade science and STEM teacher for 12 years at Dominguez Elementary in La Feria ISD, a district science coach for Harmony ISD for one year, and a K-12 STEM program specialist for the Nuclear Power Institute for a year and a half. Gianna received her M.Ed. in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Science from UTPA (Fall 2010) and is currently working towards her doctor of education in curriculum and instruction with a science specialization at UTRGV. Gianna served on the board of the Science Teachers Association of Texas (STAT) from 2017-2021. Gianna has presented on various science and stem topics at local, regional, state, national, and international conferences.
IT Director
Mrs. Jessica Moore, M.Sc.
Mrs. Jessica Moore is the Middle School Science Coordinator for PSJA.
STAAR Grade 8 Science TEKS Review Committee
STAAR Grade 8 Science Item Review Committee
Texas Resource Review Report Writer
Board Members
Mr. Rama Chintapalli
Secondary Science Coordinator
Donna ISD
Mrs. Flor Gomez
Science Coordinator
South Texas ISD
Mrs. Esther Weisman
Science Teacher
Andrew Jackson Elementary, McAllen ISD
Lifetime Board Members
Founder / Lifetime Board Member
Mr. Robert Soper
Mr. Robert Soper is the founder of the Rio Grande Valley Science Association. Mr. Soper is currently retired after having served as a science teacher and science coordinator for 28 years at PSJA ISD. Mr. Soper has served in the capacity of president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary for RGVSA. Mr. Soper is an honorary lifetime board member.
Lifetime Board Member
E. R. I. Grants; PAST Grants and Science Specialist Brownsville Independent School District
Experienced STEM Specialists wIth five degrees and various experiences in Engineering, Wildlife Biology, K-20 Teaching, STEM Outreach, Grant Writing and Program Evaluation with a demonstrated history of working in public and private schools, higher education, and industry. Skilled in Teacher Training, Educational Technology, Instructional Design, Classroom Instruction, Physical Sciences, and Environmental Science. Strong education professional with a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) focused in Evaluation, Curriculum and Instruction, Supervision from the University of Houston. Also with M.S. in Biology and B.S. in Petroleum Engineering. Currently on the Board of Directors of RGV Science Association (RGVSA) and President of the Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge (FLANWR).
Lifetime Board Member
Mrs. Susana Ramirez, M.Ed.
Mrs. Susana Ramirez is a retired Elementary Science Coordinator for PSJA ISD. She has 25 + years in education. She was recently award as a top finalist for Outstanding Leader in Science by the Texas Science Educational Leadership Association (TSELA) where she has served as secretary and treasurer. She was the Past President for the Texas Council of Elementary Science (TCES) and the Rio Grande Valley Science Association. Mrs. Ramirez has presented on various science topics at local, regional and state conferences.
Mrs. Ramirez has been very instrumental in seeking sponsorship and grants for our organization, she is currently working with the NASA's SPARX on a grant awarded from Paragon TEC, Inc. She was also able to obtain our affiliation with NSTA in February of 2011 and has served as the Program Coordinator for NSTA in the year 2013. Mrs. Ramirez is an alumni for NASA Lift Off and a NASA Heliophysics Ambassador.
Lifetime Board Member
Dr. Karen E. McNallen is currently retired and received her Ph. D. from Texas Tech University on August 7, 2021, in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in STEM Education. She formally was a STEM consultant with Accelerate Learning and gave trainings to teachers on the Science Curriculum “STEMscopes” for 9 years. She also served as a Science Coordinator of McAllen ISD from 2006 to 2014. She has been a member of RGVSA since 1995. She has served on the executive board in the capacity of Board of Directors, Vice President, President, Director of Vendors, and is currently the Treasurer. Dr. McNallen has been in education for 40 years; 27 years as a middle school and high school science teacher. Her Ph D. dissertation is titled “Teacher Innovation: Becoming a Global Educator in a Rural School” and her Master of Education thesis was published in 2006; “Perspectives of Youth on Science in the Lower Rio Grande Valley”. Previously, Karen has presented on various local, regional and state conferences.
