Sciences

Peter Rillero is an associate professor of science education at Arizona State University. He has been a science educator for more than 30 years.

Professor Rillero joined the U.S. Peace Corps in 1982 and taught grades 8 to 10 in a rural school in Kenya for three years. He taught high school general science, physics, biology, and science research for four years in a public school in Bronx, NY, while earning a masters degree in science education (Teachers College, Columbia University) and a masters degree in biology (City University of New York). Professor Rillero accepted a tenure-track faculty position in science education at Arizona State University in 1994 after earning his doctoral degree in science education from The Ohio State University with Stan Helgeson as his major advisor. He was an exchange professor at the National University of Costa Rica, a Fulbright Lecturer in science education in Iceland, STEM consultant in Cebu, Philippines, and Chair of the department of secondary education.

Professor Rillero has authored and co-authored dozens of books with the goal of improving science education. His scholarship interests focus around science education and include deep conceptual learning, problem-based learning, inquiry, teacher education, program evaluation, modeling, graphing, international education, and the history of science education. He is working on a U.S. Department of Education grant which combines problem-based learning with methods for helping English language learners in an approach called Problem-Based Enhanced-Language Learning (PBELL).

Mila Rosa is originally from the Philippines and first came to the U.S. in 2013 as a Fellow of the International Leadership in Education Program (since renamed as Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching) and was posted at Kent State University (KSU) in Kent, Ohio. The program broadened her perspective on education and led her to pursue a doctoral degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on Science Education at KSU. She also holds a master’s degree in Biology from Ateneo De Manila University, Philippines.

Mila Rosa has been a science educator since 1993. She has taught high school biology, post-secondary science and science methods courses. Currently she teaches science at the Gary Herberger Young Scholars Academy for gifted students, which is affiliated with Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University.

Her research focuses on teaching and learning the nature of science and scientific inquiry with the goal of continuing the iterative improvement of science instruction for all students. Her publications also include research concerning the use of funds of knowledge to help students understand science concepts, use of text set of literature to teach STEM and anatomical characterization of oil cells in oil-bearing plants.

Florence Hamel is an aerospace engineer. She holds an Electronic and Computer Science Engineering degree from the “Grandes Ecoles” in France as well as a Master in Spacecraft Technology and Satellite Communications from University College London, UK. She has worked in her original field as a project manager in the corporate world for 5 years. She also has a strong and successful experience as an entrepreneur in the health and nutrition industry, training and leading multicultural sales teams internationally for more than 10 years. Mrs. Hamel has moved 14 times, traveled the world and immersed herself in various countries for long periods at a time fully embracing local cultures, ways of living, understanding political and economic systems and gaining firsthand experience on how people interact not only locally but also internationally.

Yet, Mrs Hamel found her true passion for teaching when she was hired by the French Lycee in Santiago (Chile). She taught Math from 6th through 10th grade and her dedication was such that it left a lifelong impact on her students and their parents. Back in Phoenix, AZ, she accepted the Subject Matter Expert position with ASU Preparatory Academy Digital High School and built their Math and Science courses following the Cambridge Standards. Finally, Mrs. Hamel was honored that the Herberger Young Scholars Academy community hired her in July 2017 as their Geometry, Algebra, STEM as well as Spanish teacher, and now also mentorship coordinator.

Most importantly, Mrs Hamel loves children and enjoys seeing them thrive and succeed exploring reasonings and ideas outside of the usual mindset. Mrs Hamel is also perfecting on a continuous basis her curriculum and teaching approaches to better serve our gifted students. She is dedicated to helping them open their minds to new approaches beyond the classic study book and enable them to see opportunities rather than problems whether it is in the classroom or in life.

Mrs. Hamel loves travelling the world with her husband Christophe and their two young adults Camille and Pierre. This spring, Camille will be graduating from ASU W.P. Carey Business School continuing on to become a certified tax accountant. Pierre graduated from HYSA in may 2018 and is completing his Sophmore year at ASU Barrett in Mechanical Engineering.