Our Staff

Instructors

Biosphere Instructor: Robin Jensen - rjensen@vabregs.org

Globalsphere Instructor: Hollie Hetz - hhetz@vabregs.org 

Sociosphere Instructor: Angela Mohr - amohr@vabregs.org 

Geosphere Instructor: Lesley Babe-Patterson - lbabe@vabregs.org 

Mediasphere Instructor: Brady Boyer - bboyer@vabregs.org

Assistant Instructors

Biosphere Assistant - Maddie Sperling - msperling@vabregs.org 

Geosphere Assistant - Lisa Packard - lpackard@vabregs.org 

Globalsphere Assistant - Felicia DiMarco - fdimarco@vabregs.org 

Mediasphere Assistant - Emma D'Angelo

Sociosphere Assistant - Annika Jensen

Staff Profiles

Amanda Harrington

This is my first year as the Director of BREGS, and I'm very excited to be working with the students and staff in such a beloved program! I've been a teacher for 26 years, and for the last 18 years I've been the Humanities instructor at Mountain Vista Governor's School, an all-year governor's school program for high school students.  I received my BA from Virginia Tech in English, and I loved Blacksburg so much that I stayed there to do the work for my MA in Education, as well.  I have a gifted endorsement from coursework I completed at Mary Washington University and a certificate in School Leadership from William & Mary.  Besides raising my own two children, working with students and teachers in education has been the most fulfilling job of my life.  I love the level of enrichment that is required to engage gifted learners, and I am very excited for the experiences that the faculty at BREGS are putting together this year! 

Robin Jensen

Robin Jensen has been the Biosphere teacher at BREGS for five years. She currently teaches Biology at Skyline High school. She has been teaching Middle and High School Science for 14 years. Prior to teaching in a classroom, Mrs. Jensen worked for the Virginia Museum of Natural History, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, and Gateway National Recreation Area. Mrs. Jensen enjoys spending her free time exploring the trails in our nearby parks with her family. 

Brady Boyer

Brady Boyer is this year’s Mediasphere Instructor. He has been teaching high school Biology and Environmental Science for two years at Skyline High School. Prior to teaching, Mr. Boyer was an Ecology / Conservation Instructor & Director with a Boy Scout summer camp for nine years, was an intern at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, and traveled from Pennsylvania to Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and Peru to study plant-animal interactions on a community level while working on his thesis in college. He cares deeply for the environment and finds meaning in helping others to discover nature and develop their own connections to the outdoors. He enjoys hiking and backpacking through the trails all around us and loves the opportunity the trail gives him to observe and appreciate the rich biodiversity of our region. It is his goal at BREGS to foster this connection to nature in each and every one of his students.

Angela Mohr

Angela Mohr, a 20-year teacher of gifted students, is a person of wide curiosity and life experiences. Teaching a middle school research class, Angela chooses a topic for study along with her students each semester. Many of the explorations have led to unanticipated skills and interests which she uses to enhance the Sociosphere adventure. Two driving forces keep Angela moving into new areas of study: 1- What great thing is going to happen today? and 2- What's another way of looking at this problem?  Developing useful solutions will be the driving force behind the Sociosphere academics who will create something from what appears to be nothing!

Hollie Hetz

My name is Hollie Hetz, and I am the art teacher at Warren County Middle School. This is my third year working with the BREGS summer program.  I have been involved with environmental education and learning about the creatures in our ecosystem since high school.  Teaching here for BREGS is incredible.  It’s exciting to work with students who are engaged and excited about learning. The field trips we take are engaging and fun, I learn alongside the kids every trip. 

I have three amazing children of my own.  The youngest is off to college this year to study archeology.  My husband runs a handyman business and coaches soccer and volleyball. Animals are a huge part of my life, I love all the species. Helping out the humane society fostering tiny or sick kittens,  is one way I engage that passion.   I collect books and old things.  

My advice to aspiring artists and scientists alike: “Draw every day, look at the details of things; see how our world fits together.”

Lesley Babe

My name is Lesley Babe. I have been a teacher for FCPS for the past 28 years. I currently am a seventh grade English teacher at FCMS. This is my third year working with BREGS in the Geosphere.

Madelyn Sperling

Felicia DiMarco

After a career in law and a wonderful life raising my son, I decided to jump into teaching. One morning I woke up and felt I needed to do something positive in the world - - I felt I needed to use my English Major and teach! I have always loved helping people, especially when I could help them express themselves. I am now teaching English at James Wood High School, and I am loving every minute of it! 

Expression comes in many forms. Last year, I assisted Ms. Hetz, an amazing art teacher, in Globalsphere. I am so happy to be back on her creative team again! We are going to have so much fun! 

Annika Jensen

Lisa Packard

Emma D'Angelo