Cadre Members

Jonathon Pragle

Jonathan Pragle is a science teacher in Marcus Whitman Central School District, which is located in the heart of the Finger Lakes in Upstate New York. He teaches Living Environment, Earth Science and Gemini Environmental science. Jonathan has focused his efforts on teaching curriculum through the use of local flora and fauna and the use of local ecosystem services and ecosystem capitol in STEM. His graduate thesis focused on the appropriate use of Field Experiences and Studies in Earth Science Education.

Over the past 12 years Jonathan has received grants and awards that has helped bring students to the environment, and the environment into the classroom. This includes vermicomposting setups for the elementary and high school, new canoes to use on the school property and Canandaigua Lake, Trail Cameras for a biodiversity study on the school property, a fish tank and supplies to raise Brown Trout in the Classroom which are then released into Canandaigua Lake, and most recently was a co-recipient for funds to support the building of a Maple Sugar Facility on campus that uses the latest technology in Maple Syrup Production. His efforts have been highlighted in Life in the Finger Lakes, New York Agriculture in the Classroom, New York Farmer’s Bureau, and local newspapers. Jonathan believes that the proper mending of the environment and technology helps students engage in science education.

Kevin Westrich

Kevin has been teaching 9-12 mathematics in an urban setting since 1998. He has taught at all levels of high school math from Algebra 1 through Calculus and Statistics. Kevin earned his MAT in Math Education from American University in Washington DC and taught for 3 years in Montgomery County, Maryland before moving to the Rochester, NY area. He worked at Wilson Magnet High School for 14 years where he taught courses in the International Baccalaureate Programme. While at Wilson, Kevin participated in Phase I of the Noyce Master Teacher Fellowship through which he earned his Ed.D in Teaching and Curriculum from the University of Rochester. In 2015, Kevin started teaching at East High School where he is currently a math teacher and has been the Upper School Math Teacher Leader for the last 3 years. Kevin believes that learning happens when you can connect new learning to student prior knowledge and encourage students to be the ones doing the thinking.