Content Development


Content Writing Teams

To fully support teachers of chemistry, AACT works with talented teachers of all grades from across the country. AACT will continue to offer content opportunities for teachers to get involved.

Click a link to jump to a specific year: 20222020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2014

2022 Sustainability & Chemistry Content Writing Team

During the summer of 2022, AACT sponsored a Chemistry & Sustainability content writing team to develop lesson plans that have students apply their chemistry knowledge to real-world applications through the lens of one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Three wonderful teachers created unique, multi-part lesson plans that will help your students see how chemistry can be used to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Meet the team:

Shea Wickelson – Salt Lake Center for Science Education, Salt Lake City, Utah
Deonna Lynch – Scottsburg High School, Scottsburg, Indiana
Roxanne Spencer – Ranney School, Tinton Falls, New Jersey

2020 K-8 Content Writing Team

In the winter and spring of 2020, AACT sponsored a K-8 content writing team focused on developing teaching content related to two fundamental chemistry topics: Energy and Measurement. Three talented teachers worked both independently and cooperatively over 16-weeks to prepare new and unique lesson plans for these topics. Meet the team:

Sarah Moore – Uwharrie Ridge Six-Twelve, Asheboro, North Carolina
Chris Ann Slye – Ephrata High School, Ephrata, Pennsylvania
Jennifer Smith – Monticello Middle School, Monticello, Illinois

2020 Forensic Chemistry Content Writing Team

AACT sponsored a forensic chemistry themed content writing team during the summer of 2020. Five outstanding teachers created engaging lesson plans that can each be integrated into a high school chemistry curriculum. The exciting forensic storyline in each of these lessons will certainly be of interest to students, while also revealing a real-world application of chemistry. Meet the team:

Anne Huntress – South Lewis Central School, Turnin, New York
Crystal Kissel – Fort Mill High School, Fort Mill, South Carolina
Deonna Puckett – Scottsburg High School, Scottsburg, Indiana
Alyssa Whitney – Old Rochester Regional High School, Mattapoisett, Massachusetts
Shea Wickelson – Salt Lake Center for Science Education, Salt Lake City, Utah

2019 ChemMatters Content Writing Team

During the summer of 2019 AACT sponsored the first content writing team focused on creating lesson plans that incorporated the use of a ChemMatters magazine article. This team was highly successful, as three wonderful teachers created very unique teaching content for both middle and high school classrooms. Meet the team:

Stacey Balbach – Cuba City School District, Cuba City, Wisconsin
Judy Cheng – Poly Prep Country Day School, New York, New York
Lauren Stewart – Sylvania Northview High School, Sylvania, Ohio

2019 AP Realignment Content Team

When the College Board announced that the AP Chemistry Course Framework would be reorganized into 9 units, effective as of the 2019-2020 school year, AACT sponsored a teacher team to realign the existing AP content in the AACT classroom resource library. Four amazing teachers worked tirelessly in the summer of 2019 in order to make the content available in advance of the new school year. Meet the team:

Dusty Carroll – Seneca High School, Tabernacle, New Jersey
Jennifer Douglass – Veterans High School, Kathleen, Georgia
Christine Taylor – Christ Church Episcopal School, Greenville, South Carolina
Nora Walsh – Reitz High School, Evansville, Indiana

2018 AP Chemistry Content Writing Team

AACT sponsored a second AP Chemistry Content Writing Team in the Summer of 2018. Four participants worked independently and cooperatively during the 8-week project to develop classroom resources appropriate for teaching specific Learning Objectives. The classroom resources developed through this content writing project will be available in the High School Resource Library in the Fall of 2018. Meet the team:

Rose Dunlap – St. Mary’s Episcopal School, Memphis, Tennessee
Melissa Hemling – Beaver Dam High School, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Ryan Johnson – Doherty High School, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Christine Taylor – Christ Church Episcopal School, Greenville, South Carolina

2017 AP Chemistry Content Writing Team

AACT sponsored an AP Chemistry Content Writing Team in the Summer of 2017. The participants worked independently and cooperatively during the 8-week project to develop classroom resources appropriate for teaching Learning Objectives related to AP Big Ideas 4, 5, and 6. The classroom resources developed through this content writing project will be available in the High School Resource Library in the Fall of 2017. Meet the team:

James Cherry – Summit High School, Spring Hill, Tennessee
Jennifer Douglass – Veterans High School, Kathleen, Georgia
Erin Radebe - Long Reach High School, Columbia, Maryland

"The Chemistry of Color" Content Writing Team

With generous support from PPG Industries, AACT formed a new content writing team in 2017. Ten K–12 teachers and one lead writer will create a collection of teaching resources about the Chemistry of Color, with a focus on real-world applications that coincide with PPG’s core business, particularly paints, dyes, and ceramics. Each classroom resource developed by the content writing team will be connected to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Resources will be available Fall 2017 in the AACT classroom resource library. Meet the team.

Dusty Carroll – Lead Content Writer, Marlton, New Jersey
Laura Celik – Princeton, New Jersey
Bill Hoffman – New Castle, Pennsylvania
Lauri McDonald – Dallas, Texas
Renuka Rajasekaran – Locust Grove, Georgia
Michele Thomas – Georgetown, Delaware
Maria Tolentino – Woodbridge, New Jersey
Kevin Willis – Carmichaels, Pennsylvania
Michelle Winesett – Boiling Springs, South Carolina
Heather Zimmer – Milton, Massachusetts

"The Chemistry of Cars" Content Writing Team

AACT partnered with the Ford Motor Company to offer a themed content writing opportunity focused on The Chemistry of Cars for K-12 teachers of chemistry in the spring of 2016. A special thanks to the teachers who contributed, and to The Ford Motor Company for their support of chemistry education.

Steve Sogo – Lead Content Writer, Laguna Beach, California
David Allan – Saginaw, Michigan
DeEtta Andersen – Center Point, Iowa
Jean Mihelcic – Berwyn, Pennsylvania
Laura Murphy – Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Lee Rucinski – Tinley Park, Illinois
Sherri Rukes – Libertyville, Illinois
Jennifer Smith – Monticello, Illinois
Roxanne Spencer – Princeton, New Jersey
Maryjane Utley – Westerly, Rhode Island

2014 Launch Teams

Prior to AACT's official launch in September of 2014, we assembled a middle school and elementary school team of dedicated teachers to develop lesson plans. Thanks to all who participated!

2014 Middle School Content Writing Team

Michael Chapman Jr., lead content writer
Lisa Blank
D. Marie Gillespie
Christine Herald
Christopher Johannesson

2014 Elementary School Content Writing Team

Margaret Carruthers, lead content writer
Deborah Franklin
Charles Gale
James Sauer
Jennifer Sengbusch
Luci Spinale