President-Elect Candidates 2026
Michael Mury
Polk County, Florida
Years of experience: 10-15
Current grade levels taught: Other: 9-12 Science Curriculum Specialist
Science Teaching Philosophy
Creating confidence and excitement in students is paramount to great teaching. I believe the most important aspect for a powerful classroom is getting to know and understand your students. An atmosphere of creativity, enthusiasm and drive helps create an environment where students can be successful. I strive daily to excite, challenge and empower my students with the science skills and analytical techniques they need to be successful critical thinkers in their lives. Through discussion, investigation, and skill development students attain the skills they need to succeed. Teachers provide the mechanism and are the conduits for students to unlock their potential.
Why I Want to Serve
In my nearly 20 years of serving in education, I have found that teachers are the heart of the field and are behind the successes across the country. I have noticed that teachers are the biggest support group for each other. For this reason, organizations such as AACT provide the means for teachers to provide more support for each other as well as broadening their impact. Increasing AACT’s impact and community is paramount for its continued mission and I would be honored to lead those efforts in the presidential succession for the organization.
Working at ACS for 7 years, I interacted with teachers across the country as we built the ChemClub program. I also had the opportunity to work with teachers through leading professional development workshops. These experiences led me back to the classroom where I am currently teaching and working with teachers in Florida. Creating more community among teachers and sharing the awesome teaching going on in classrooms is a major reason I would love to serve as president-elect of AACT.
My AACT Contributions
I have been an AACT member since its inaugural year. I have served on the nomination and awards committee and served on the Governing Board as the representative from DivChed (Division of Chemical Education) twice. I help develop the initial strategic plan for the organization as a member of the governing board and I have also contributed to Chemistry Solutions. My membership and involvement with AACT has been one of the most important investments of my career. I have also helped organize the last two Teacher Days at the ACS national meetings along with ACS staff.
Roxanne Spencer
Tinton Falls, New Jersey
Years of experience: 10-15
Current grade levels taught: 9-12
Science Teaching Philosophy
My teaching philosophy centers on moving students from rote memorization to deep conceptual understanding so they leave my classroom as scientifically literate, independent thinkers. I design inquiry-based lessons grounded in real-world applications that help students connect microscopic particle behavior to observable phenomena. The ability to question, analyze, and draw conclusions is essential not only in science but across disciplines. In today’s AI-driven world, I emphasize higher-order thinking and reflection, asking students to identify the “muddiest point” to support metacognition and encourage them to take intellectual risks and learn from mistakes.
Why I Want to Serve
As a longtime member of AACT, I feel a responsibility to give back to an organization that has been valuable throughout my career. Chemistry teachers face unique instructional challenges that are not always fully understood outside our discipline, and AACT provides a professional community that helps teachers better serve their students.
The rapid advances in artificial intelligence and immediate access to information are directly impacting education. Building on my experience on the Governing Board, I am eager to help AACT anticipate and respond to these emerging challenges. AACT can play a critical role in supporting teachers as they prioritize higher-order thinking skills and scientific reasoning.
I am committed to ensuring that chemistry education remains both accessible and relevant for everyone. This role offers a meaningful opportunity to contribute to AACT’s strategic direction, so its initiatives align with member needs and support the long-term sustainability of the organization.
I would be honored to serve on the Presidential Succession team, working to strengthen member engagement, expand access to high-quality resources, and ensure that AACT remains a vital professional community for all teachers of chemistry.
My AACT Contributions
I have been a member of the ACS for over 30 years and a member of AACT since its founding in 2014. From the beginning, I have supported AACT in many ways, from creating classroom resources to working with ACS committees.
I have participated in three content writing teams (Chemistry of Cars, Sustainability & Chemistry, and Chemical Technical Professionals), presented two webinars, and served as a peer reviewer for Chemistry Solutions. In 2024, I was appointed as the AACT representative to collaborate with the ACS Committee on Nomenclature, Terminology, and Symbols on the development of an educational toolkit, which is nearing completion. This summer, I will represent AACT at the 2026 Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, presenting a workshop on using resources from AACT's Chemical Technical Professionals collection.
This past year, I served as the High School Ambassador on the Governing Board and greatly valued the collaboration among AACT staff, committee representatives, the Presidential Succession team, and the Middle School Ambassador. This experience has strengthened my ability to evaluate initiatives from a broader perspective.