Katy Kuei - Mission San Jose High School

Katy Kuei is a high school honors chemistry teacher in Fremont, CA. She holds both single and multiple-subject credentials, as well as an administrative credential. Katy earned her B.S. and a Master of Music in Piano Performance. Throughout her teaching career, Katy has devoted her summers to furthering her content knowledge and engaging in experiences outside the classroom to advance her teaching practice. In 2006, she began with the Industry Initiatives for Science and Math Education (IISME) Summer Fellowship program. Since then, she has worked with NUMMI, Lockheed Martin, Applied Materials, and Stanford University on projects such as generating NUMMI environmental education materials, developing hands-on renewable energy activities such as solar cells and hydrogen fuel cells for high school students and Summer Teaching Institute ChemEX2 program at Stanford University for high school chemistry teachers. She has received three IISME innovation awards. Katy’s career highlights include working for the Research Science Institute at Tsinghua University, Beijing. She received numerous grants for incorporating computing with STEM course applications, such as EV3 robots and Oculus virtual reality. Her passion for teaching and commitment to bringing computational thinking and technology to the 21st-century classroom is evident.

Kieu Pham - Milpitas High School

My name is Kieu Pham, and I teach biology and chemistry at Milpitas High School. I am passionate about delivering relevant, hands-on, project-based curricula to my students. I want all of my students (regardless of whether or not they pursue STEM in the future) to gain a basic understanding of the scientific method and experimental design, as well as strong critical thinking skills. The most fulfilling part of my job is when students who formerly did not like science tell me that they love science by the end of the year!

Hollis Price - Willow Glen High School

I am Hollis Price, and I teach Chemistry at Willow Glen High School. I am thrilled to be a part of the 2023 Research Experience for Teachers. I have always been fascinated by Chemistry and love what I do. I am excited to be working with Dr. Oh on solid-state electrolytic polymers for lithium-ion batteries. The combination of pertinent, real-world applications and electrochemistry is a wonderful springboard for developing a relevant curriculum. One of my ongoing goals is to provide my students with examples of how Chemistry is used, and I feel this is an invaluable opportunity to collaborate with professors in the Engineering and Science Education departments at San José State University. I cannot wait to see what I can bring back to the classroom. In my free time, I love being with my pups, visiting my adult children, and working in fiber arts. I am an avid reader and enjoy traveling and exploring new things. 

Sam Fung - Homestead High School

Hey everyone! I'm Sam Fung, and I am thrilled to be part of the San Jose State University RET Program. With experience in the private industry and a major in instructional design, I'm eager to make chemistry classes exciting and relevant for my students. When I'm not teaching, I explore research on lithium-ion and solid-state batteries. In my spare time, I indulge in creating delightful floral fragrances because who doesn't love a bit of floral magic? I can't wait to jump on this research journey with you all. Let's create unforgettable experiences together☺

Josh Little - Henry M. Gunn High School

I currently teach biology at Henry M. Gunn High School in Palo Alto, California. Previously, I taught Science at Horner Junior High School in Fremont. I graduated from San Jose State University with a biological sciences and chemistry degree in 2013 and a teaching credential. In addition, I earned an MS degree in Biology and currently working towards a Ph.D. in General Psychology with an emphasis in Cognition and Instruction. I chose to participate in the RET program to gain valuable insights into engineering so that I can implement more of it in the classroom. I will be working with Dr. Kao to 1) metabolically engineer an alpha-ionone-producing strain of yeast and 2) develop a teaching module on biotechnology for high school students. In my spare time, I like to hang out with my dog at the beach and exercise at OrangeTheory Fitness.

Oana Seremeta Schmiedeskamp - Mission San Jose High School

I am Oana Seremeta Schmiedeskamp and I teach Living Earth (Biology) and AP Chemistry at Mission San Jose High School in Fremont, CA. Working with the highly motivated student population at my school propels me to challenge myself to find innovative content to bring to the classroom. I look forward to my work with RET and hope to develop a cross-curricular module for my freshmen Bio students and upperclassmen Chemistry students. I hope to inspire them to appreciate the interconnectedness of the various science disciplines. 

In my free time, I enjoy mountaineering, skiing, and generally being out in nature. I’m proud to say that each of the last ten summers, I’ve climbed a new peak of over 4,000 meters, and I hope this trend will continue!

Michele Kerr - John F. Kennedy High School

Six years ago, happily teaching math and history, I realized that my school, JFK High School in Fremont,  was far behind other district high schools in engineering offerings. My twenty years of pre-teaching tech industry experience allowed me to qualify for a CTE credential and start a program quickly. I now teach three engineering courses and run an after-school tech club, administer our rapidly growing maker space and lab,  and advise our school’s MESA team. I always look for new knowledge and opportunities to pass on to my students. Regardless of their plans, I try to help students learn about new technology and empower themselves by learning to use it.

Wanyi Huang- American High School

I am a Physics educator with a passion for teaching both Physics and Physics in the Universe at American High School. Equipped with a Master's Degree in Science Teaching, I am dedicated to instilling in my students a deep understanding and appreciation for the wonders of the universe. As an advocate of the growth mindset, I firmly believe that every individual has the potential to excel and grow. In my classroom, I create a welcoming environment where mistakes are embraced as valuable learning opportunities. Encouraging my students to take risks and explore new concepts fosters their intellectual development. Beyond the classroom, I enjoy a variety of outdoor and indoor activities. Exploring nature's beauty through hiking adventures with friends and family rejuvenates my spirit and inspires a sense of wonder. Additionally, I am an active member of the local fencing club, specializing in saber.

Julia Coe - Fremont High School

My name is Julia Coe, a science teacher at Fremont High School in Sunnyvale, and so far have never taught the same science course two years in a row (prior courses include Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, and Physiology). I have been teaching for three years after previously working in clinical research. I am passionate about helping all of my students (whether they are interested in furthering their STEM education beyond high school or not) develop a scientific curiosity about the world around them and the skills to both explore it and evaluate the explorations of others - whether in the form of their peers, scientific journals or news headlines. I have a strong belief that all students should achieve a level of scientific literacy to allow them to make informed decisions about their lives and choices as citizens of the world. Outside of work, I enjoy reading, knitting, playing video games, and tabletop roleplaying with friends!