AACT Member Spotlight: Archive

Every month AACT spotlights a passionate member who is dedicated to enhancing chemistry inside and outside the classroom. View past spotlights here.


Explore by Year: 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 

2026

  • Anthony Stetzenmeyer

    In September, we spotlight Anthony Stetzenmeyer. He teaches high school chemistry and AP chemistry at Belleville High School in Belleville, Michigan.

  • Esther Hines

    In August, we spotlight Esther Hines. Though she is now retired, she taught AP Chemistry, Honors Chemistry, College Preparatory Chemistry, and Introductory Organic Chemistry at Billerica Memorial High School, in Billerica Massachusetts.

  • Jeromy Bentley

    In July, we spotlight Jeromy Bentley. He teaches honors chemistry and forensic chemistry at Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Illinois.

  • Elizabeth Christophy

    In June, we spotlight Elizabeth Christophy. She teaches Chemistry and AP Chemistry at Sacred Heart Academy, in Hamden, Connecticut.

  • Noe Gomez

    In May, we spotlight Noe Gomez. He teaches chemistry at Carpinteria High School and Santa Barbara City College in Santa Barbara, California.

  • Kristina McDonald

    In April, we spotlight Kristina McDonald. She teaches Chemistry and General Science at St. Anne's Catholic Secondary School, in Clinton, Ontario, Canada.

  • Chris Vyhnal

    In March, we spotlight Chris Vyhnal. He teaches Chemistry, Physics, and Earth Science at The Thacher School in Ojai, California.

  • Jamie Flint

    In February, we spotlight Jamie Flint. She teaches Chemistry and AP Chemistry at Spring Woods High School in Houston, Texas.

  • Vladimir Baldelomar

    In January, we spotlight Vladimir Baldelomar. Vladimir teaches Chemistry, AP Chemistry, and Physics at West Boca Raton High School in Boca Raton, Florida.

2025

  • Tola Ogundipe

    In December, we spotlight Tola Ogundipe. She teaches Biology, Earth Science, and Ecology at Harrisonburg Summit Academy in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

  • Deena Vardhini

    In November, we spotlight Deena Vardhini. She teaches Chemistry, Biology, and AP Biology at Okinawa Christian School International in Japan.

  • Todd Smeltz

    In October, we spotlight Todd Smeltz, a chemistry teacher at Upper Dauphin Area High School in Elizabethville, PA.

  • Amiee Modic

    In September, we spotlight Amiee Modic. She is the 2025–2026 AACT Governing Board President and a chemistry teacher at Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart in Houston, Texas.

  • Chris Ann Slye

    In August, we spotlight Chris Ann Slye, a science teacher at University School in Shaker Heights, Ohio. 

  • Michael Miehl

    In July, we spotlight Michael Miehl, an AP Chemistry and Honors Chemistry teacher at Springbrook High School in Silver Spring, MD. 

  • Iman Elhusseini

    In June, we featured Iman Elhusseini, a chemistry teacher at Emirates School Establishment in the The United Arab Emirates.

  • Scott Hawkins

    In May, we featured Scott Hawkins, a chemistry teacher at St. Ignatius High School in Ohio.

  • Shannon Smith

    In April, we featured Shannon Smith, a chemistry teacher at The Summit Country Day School in Ohio.

  • Robert Ayton

    In March, we featured Robert Ayton, a chemistry and AP Chemistry teacher at the Redeemer Christian School in Florida.

  • Nourhan Ahmed

    In February, we featured Nourhan Ahmed, a chemistry teacher for the UAE Ministry of Education.

  • Haley Vito

    In January, we featured Haley Vito, a chemistry teacher at Oconee County High School in Georgia.

2024

  • Martin Palermo

    In September, we featured Martin Palermo, current AACT President and a high school chemistry teacher at William Floyd High School in New York.

  • Umberto Kober

    In August, we featured Umberto Kobar, a Research Development Scientist at the University of Toledo in Ohio.

  • Mark Hackbarth

    In July, we featured Mark Hackbarth, a science teacher at Jefferson Middle School in Michigan.

  • Erika Fatura

    In June, we featured Erika Fatura, a science teacher at Pentwater Public Schools in Michigan.

  • Dustin Himebauch

    In May, we featured Dustin Himebauch, a science teacher at Climax-Scotts Jr./Sr. High School in Michigan.

  • Sarah English

    In April, we featured Sarah English, a chemistry and AP Chemistry teacher at Sweet Home High School in New York.

  • Amy Klopf

    In March, we featured Amy Klopf, Dean of Students/MTSS Coordinator at Coleman Elementary School in Michigan.

  • Chris Coker

    In February, we featured Chris Coker, a chemistry teacher at Camden Fairview High School in Arkansas.

  • Patricia DeCoster

    In January, we featured Patricia DeCoster, a chemistry professor at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut.

2023

  • Andrea Gearhart

    In December, we featured Andrea Gearhart, a chemistry teacher at Peters Township High School in Pennsylvania.

  • Deayne Johnson

    In November, we featured Deayne Johnson, a science teacher at Fernbank Science Center in Georgia.

  • Scott Valenta

    In October, we featured Scott Valenta, a science teacher at St John the Baptist School in Illinois.

  • Michael Farabaugh

    In September, we featured Michael Farabaugh, current AACT President and a high school chemistry teacher at Albemarle High School in Virginia

  • Ryan Williams

    In August, we featured Ryan Williams, a chemistry and AP Chemistry teacher at Abington Senior High School in Pennsylvania.

  • Darla Church

    In July, we featured Darla Church, a chemistry and science teacher at EMMA Homeschool Resource Classes.

  • Daniel D. Dulek

    In June, we featured Daniel D. Dulek, a chemistry and AP Chemistry teacher at Amos Alonzo Stagg High School in Illinois.

  • Stacey Balbach

    In May, we featured Stacey Balbach, a chemistry and AP Chemistry teacher at Cuba City High School in Wisconsin.

  • Melissa Hemling

    In April, we featured Melissa Hemling, a chemistry and AP Chemistry teacher at Beaver Dam High School in Wisconsin.

  • Kathleen Packard

    In March, we featured Kathleen Packard, a chemistry and AP Chemistry teacher at Monarch High School in Colorado.

  • Dorothy Holley

    In February, we featured Dorothy Holley, a chemistry and environmental science teacher at West Johnston High School in North Carolina.

  • Chad Bridle

    In January, we featured Chad Bridle, a chemistry teacher at Grandville High School in Michigan.

2022

  • Michael Morgan

    In December, we featured Michael Morgan, a chemistry teacher at Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School in California.

  • Christine Taylor

    In November, we featured Christine Taylor, a chemistry teacher at Christ Church Episcopal School in South Carolina.

  • Robin DeClercq

    In October, we featured Robin DeClercq, a chemistry and physical science teacher at Austin High School in Minnesota.

  • Matt Perekupka

    In September, we featured Matt Perekupka, current AACT President and a high school chemistry teacher at Cinnaminson High School in New Jersey.

  • Victoria Perrone

    In August, we featured Victoria Perrone, a chemistry teacher at Boston University Academy in Massachusetts.

  • Apollonia Campbell

    In July, we featured Apollonia Campbell, a chemistry and forensics teacher at Brazosport High School in Texas.

  • Jenn Craven

    In June, we featured Jenn Craven, a science teacher at The North Carolina Leadership Academy in North Carolina.

  • Eleanor Byers

    In May, we featured Eleanor Byers, a high school chemistry teacher at Woodbridge Senior High School in Virginia.

  • Autumn Rivera

    In April, we featured Autumn Rivera, a middle school science teacher at Glenwood Springs Middle School in Colorado.

  • Carmen Foschino

    In March, we featured Carmen Foschino, a high school chemistry teacher at The Scholars' Academy in New York.

  • Ryan Johnson

    In February, we featured Ryan Johnson, a high school chemistry teacher at Doherty High School in Colorado.

  • Jeanette Stewart

    In January, we featured Jeanette Stewart, a high school chemistry teacher at Marist School in Georgia.

2021

  • December 2021

    In December, we featured Kevin Kopack, a high school chemistry teacher at Brookfield Academy in Wisconsin.

  • November 2021

    In November, we featured Barry Debski, a high school chemistry teacher at Faith Academy in Alabama.

  • October 2021

    In October, we featured Anne Huntress, a high school chemistry and physics teacher at South Lewis Central School in New York.

  • September 2021

    In September, we featured Greta Glugoski-Sharp, current AACT President and a high school chemistry teacher at Regis Jesuit High School in Colorado.

  • August 2021

    In August, we featured Nora Walsh, a high school chemistry and AP Chemistry teacher at FJ Reitz High School in Indiana.

  • July 2021

    In July, we featured Anne Schmidt, a high school chemistry and AP Chemistry teacher at Bay Port High School in Wisconsin.

  • June 2021

    In June, we featured Zach Jones, a high school chemistry teacher at Legacy High School in Colorado.

  • May 2021

    In May, we featured Loyola Pasiewicz, a high school chemistry teacher at Lyons Township High School in Illinois.

  • April 2021

    In April, we featured Jonte' Lee, a high school STEM teacher at Calvin Coolidge High School in Washington, D.C.

  • March 2021

    In March, we featured Anjana Iyer, a high school chemistry teacher at Hillsborough High School in New Jersey.

  • February 2021

    In February, we featured Katy Dornbos, a high school chemistry teacher at Norris High School in Nebraska.

  • January 2021

    In January, we featured Johanna Brown, a high school chemistry teacher at Pullman High School in Washington.

2020

  • December 2020

    In December, we featured Kristin Gregory, a high school chemistry teacher at Geauga High School in  Ohio.

  • November 2020

    In November, we featured Tyler Kinner, STEM Curriculum Development Lead at the Georgia Tech Research Institute in Georgia.

  • October 2020

    In October, we featured Verlese P. Gaither, a high school chemistry teacher at Wakefield High School in Virginia.

  • September 2020 In September, we featured Jesse Bernstein, current AACT President and Governing Board chair, from Miami, Florida.
  • June 2020 In June, we featured Alice Putti from Jenison High School in Jenison, Michigan.
  • May 2020

    In May, we featured Sean Fisk from Ruamrudee International School in Bangkok, Thailand.

  • April 2020

    In April, we featured Michael Nocella from Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois.

  • March 2020

    In March, we featured Dusty Carroll from Seneca High School in New Jersey.

  • January 2020

    In January, we featured Adam Kraft from the Westminster Schools of Augusta in Augusta, Ga.

2019

  • December 2019

    This month we spotlight Lindsay Davis from The Baldwin School Bryn Mawr, PA

  • November 2019

    This month we spotlight Kristen Drury from William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach, NY.

  • October 2019

    This month we spotlight Linda Cummings, Chemistry Instructor at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.

  • September 2019

    This month we spotlight AACT President and chemistry teacher at Harriton High School of Lower Merion School District in Rosemont, Pennsylvania, Heather Weck.

  • June 2019

    This month we spotlight Michael Farabaugh, Chemistry and AP Chemistry teacher at Albemarle High School in Charlottesville, Virginia.

  • May 2019

    This month we spotlight Roxanne Spencer from Ranney School in Tinton Falls, NJ.

  • April 2019

    This month we spotlight Mary McMaster from Allen Park High School, Allen Park, MI.

  • March 2019

    This month we spotlight Susan Clark from Shelby Junior High School, Township, MI.

  • February 2019

    This month we spotlight Matt Perekupka from Cinnaminson High School, Cinnaminson, NJ.

  • January 2019

    This month we spotlight Dr. Melanie Bartow Wills, high school chemistry teacher at the William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

2018

  • December 2018 This month we spotlight AACT President and AP chemistry teacher at Libertyville High School, Sherri Rukes.