Carly Ryan is an evolutionary marine biologist on a mission to find your inner nerd. She has been teaching and tutoring students of all ages for three years while earning her Master of Science degree for studying Snail fur (Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus), a tiny pink animal that lives on hermit crab shells. She thinks that understanding the natural world is a fundamental human quest, but that science is often taught in a clinical way that squashes many people's natural curiosity. By engaging students with hands on experiments and experiences with living things, she helps close the gap between the excitement of watching the discovery channel and the challenge of studying biology.
Alexandra Nicole Usher
Beginner's French, Intermediate French and Beginners Italian
Alexandra has spent a large amount of time in Europe visiting friends and family and studying abroad. In 2007, Alexandra spent nine months in southern France studying the language and culture. While studying there, she mentored three French children in English studies; with an emphasis on reading, writing, vocabulary and comprehension of the English language.Alexandra has visited Italy in 2005 on a summer scholarship to study in Rome, in 2008 to study in central Italy and is there again this summer 2010! Alexandra enjoyed employment at UMASS Amherst’s University's Main Library as a French and Italian Tutor and graduated from UMASS Amherst with a Bachelors degree in May 2010.She comes highly recommended by her professors and is excited to explore education at Think Tank this fall. She will be teaching French and Italian.
Jon Gorky
The Psychology of Acting
Jon is new to the staff at Think Tank and is excited to get involved with all of the great work being done. Prior to Think Tank, Jon had worked as a certified high school math teacher at Rockville High School in Vernon, CT. While at this post, Jon taught and tutored a wide range of subjects including all levels of Algebra, Geometry, Consumer Math, Chemistry, Biology, and English Literature. Jon had also been the Musical Theatre Director at Rockville High School for four years, producing, artistically and musically directing, choreographing, and designing the technical aspects of Once Upon a Mattress, Little Shop of Horrors, The Who's Tommy, and other shows. In addition he acted as the Assistant Marching Band Director and Color Guard Coordinator for the Rockville Marching Ram Band. Jon holds a B.A. in Actuarial Science with minors in English and History, as well as an M.A. in Education Curriculum and Instruction all from the University of Connecticut. In his precious little spare time, Jon is an avid reader and enjoys dabbling in painting, piano playing, and other artistic endeavors.
Jennifer Swan
Intro. to Painting and Art Chemistry
Jennifer Swan is a teaching artist and mural painter who shares her love of art with the diverse community of Worcester and its surrounding cities and towns. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, she currently teaches classes for the Worcester Art Museum and is a member of the Magnum Opus Fine Art Agency. She is primarily a plain air landscape painter, however, draws influence from many themes, styles and cultures in her artwork.
Jennifer Vaughan
The Middle Ages- History and More
2010 marks Jennifer's sixth year in her odyssey as a home educator. What began as a necessity during a 6 month long family sabbatical to England has become a vocation. Now when asked her occupation on airport forms she writes: radical pedagogue/laundress. Jennifer has, for 20 years, been teaching children and adults in a variety of subjects in a variety of settings. Some examples include; teaching language arts in a Seattle junior high, a two-year long intensive in theology and doctrine for adults in a cathedral in D.C. and a multi-age history class in a Baltimore home school co-op. Since moving to Worcester two years ago, she and her family have been exploring current world culture and geography, and ancient world history whilst learning to spelling names of Assyrian kings. She uses her degress in English Literature and in Theology, as well as her experience as a writer and story teller, to draw connections between the past and the present and between every person's gifts of reason and imagination. When not engaged in these pursuits, Jennifer can be found in the kitchen or building things out of stone.
Tofer Carlson
Introduction to Engineering Design
Tofer has been living in Worcester for the last ten years—first as a student at WPI, then as a teacher in the Worcester Public Schools. After graduating with degrees in Civil Engineering and Writing, Tofer pursued a master’s degree in education at Clark University, and is currently finishing up a second master’s in mathematics.Tofer is currently teaching algebra and geometry to ninth grade students at South High Community school, coaching the math team and drama club, and spending as much time as he can acting and writing for the stage.Tofer enjoys combining elements of engineering design, the arts and biological sciences into his math courses, and tries to offer his students a chance to explore math in unique and exciting ways. 2010 marks Jennifer's 6th year in her odyssey as a shome educator. What began as a necessity during a 6 month long family sabbatical to England has become a vocation.
Jocelyn Langer
Beginners Spanish and Intermediate Spanish
Jocelyn developed a love of learning and teaching as a home school student, and over the past 15 years she has taught music, art, writing, health and Spanish to kids of all ages in many different settings. Jocelyn began learning Spanish while traveling in Central America, and later studied at the San Pedro Spanish School in Guatemala. She taught at the Balance Rock Center in Holden, and currently teaches Spanish and music at the Village School in Royalston, and also in an after school program at the Listening Wellness Center in Barre. Jocelyn graduated from UMass Amherst with a concentration in Community Health Education. Claudio Salazar Physics, Physics, Physics, Relevant Math for the Real World and Math Tutoring With a background in comic art and science, Claudio has been offering students a unique twist on understanding the general foundations of physics and basic engineering for all ages. He studied engineering at WPI with a Mechanical Engineering major in manufacture and design. Out of pure curiosity to compliment his understanding on science, he spent a few years studying every topic in general physics and mechanics (except for quantum physics) and indirectly ended up developing a compilation of Physics Comic books that cover every topic in macro scale physics and basic foundations of engineering. As a result, he's been invited to teach physics atQuinsigammond Community College and has worked tutoring various students in math and science in the Worcester area.
His primary written work devoted to science and physics, Jack Dogg's Compendium Guide to Forces in the Universe is a 2000 page compilation of comic illustrative narratives covering physics that is currently available on his online store at www.edubolics.com/store
Daniel Gay
The Sound and the Fury - Music and Civil Rights
Daniel is a musician and teacher based in Worcester since 2008. An accomplished pianist and guitarist, Daniel has composed original music for theater, performed in a variety of rock ensembles in and around greater New England, and taught privately in the Worcester and Boston areas. As a teacher, Daniel has spent the last 5 years teaching at-risk youth in residential, hospital, and public school settings. As a public educator in the Worcester Public Schools, he has successfully incorporated music appreciation and performance into the curriculum as a means to encourage creativity. Additional endeavors have included the creation of a student literary magazine and student empowerment council. Daniel will use the social studies course to introduce students to responsible activism while providing a safe, comfortable forum for students to creatively express themselves.
Lauri-Anne Marshall
Creative Writing (ages 9-12)
Lauri-Anne comes from the Worcester Public Schools where she works as a special education teacher.She came to know her love for teaching in college and during a year of volunteering in San Diego, California.Since returning to her roots in Worcester, she has continued schooling in education and most recently in counseling. She loves working with kids, laughing and flamingos.
