Meet Our Teacher Leader Cadre Members

Kirsten Abbott is currently teaching High School Chemistry and serving as a Coach for Tier 1 Math/Science Instruction at Geneva High School in Geneva, NY. Kirsten has been an educator within the district for 9 years. She has always believed that questioning, investigating, discovery, and communication are all part of authentic science learning. Therefore, learners actively participate in these practices to encourage their growth and confidence. This sets the stage for curiosity to flourish and for building a scientific community.

Nicole Charles is an educator and teacher leader with 24 years of experience in the East Irondequoit Central School District, the second most diverse district in New York State (outside of New York City).  She has held roles as a special education teacher and fifth-grade classroom teacher and is currently a mathematics interventionist.  She works daily to employ reform-minded math practices that yield equitable outcomes for her students.  Nicole is committed to being a lifelong learner and has presented locally, regionally, and nationally and some of her leadership work has been highlighted in the book, The Power of Teacher Leaders: Their Roles, Influence, and Impact. 

Driven by a mantra of “Success for ALL students!”, Jenn has been teaching for 33 years, with the last 28 years in the Geneva City School District. Jenn’s teaching roles have included: Special Education teacher, General Education teacher, AIS teacher, STEAM teacher, and Math Coach. She believes in a classroom community in which students feel safe, cared for, nurtured, and respected as contributing members of the learning community. Achieving this with her 1^st grade students has been with an eye towards equity and inclusion, social emotional learning,  and a platform of strong discourse in which we all succeed, learn, and grow together. Viewing herself as a lifelong learner, after 20+ years of teaching, Jenn participated in the NSF NOYCE MTF STEM program from 2016-2020. During this time, she completed the MTF program, received certification in Program Evaluation and Teacher Leadership, as well as engaged in doctoral work. Reflecting on her career and learning, Jenn would find Julia Child’s words applicable to my view on education: “Find something you are passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it!!”

Former Theatre Geek, Maria Frey held many positions before falling on her true calling as a Second Grade teacher and Math Leader with East Irondequoit Central School District. In 2023, she completed the five-year, Noyce Master Teacher Fellowship, through which she earned certificates of Advanced Study in K-12 Digitally Rich Teaching and Learning and Teacher Leadership from the Warner School of Education at the University of Rochester. Maria has been responsible for writing curriculum for the district, embedding computer science standards, reformed based and culturally responsive practices for math, literacy, science, and social studies. In addition, she has acted as a new teacher mentor, content-focused coaching for grades Pre-K through 2nd grade, and provided job embedded professional learning in areas of digital literacy and mathematical discourse.

Maria Frey forms relationships with her students and their families breaking boundaries to communication, giving voice to her students through individual or group discourse and including them in goal setting and reflection. She believes in providing opportunities for students to authentically apply their knowledge and skills. She encourages students to be resourceful and independent learners through careful scaffolding and inquiry into their own methods for learning.

Michaela Marino is currently working in the Rochester City School District as a 7^th grade mathematics teacher.  Before returning to the classroom full time in 2023, Michaela served as the lead teacher for the middle school at East High School for 7 years.  The foundations to her daily practice are high expectations, high support and inquiry-based mathematics teaching.  This is her 15^th year working in the Rochester City School District.  She is most proud of the connections she has made with students over the years.

Orlando Marrero is the K-12 Director of STEAM for the West Irondequoit Central School District and instructor of science education at the University of Rochester’s Margaret Warner School of Education and Human Development. He is a NOYCE Master Teacher Fellowship, Phase 1 alumni through which he received his Doctorate in Education from the University of Rochester in 2015, as well as his Certificates of Advanced Study in Building and District Administration. Orlando has been an educator for 17 years. During this time he has taught high school physics and chemistry, and middle school science in the Rochester City School District and University Preparatory Charter School for Young Men. He was also an Assistant Principal at Odyssey Academy in the Greece Central School District. Orlando’s vision for teaching and learning STEAM is grounded in the commitment to cultivating inclusive learning environments that embrace diversity, promote equity, and ignite a passion for lifelong learning.

A former technician at Cornell Equine Drug Testing, Jason McMurray went on to get his teaching certification and Master’s at the University of Rochester’s Margaret Warner School of Education and Human Development. He is a New York State Master Teacher Fellow Emeritus as well as a Noyce Master Teacher Fellow from the Warner School’s Phase 3 Digitally Rich Cohort, receiving his Certificates of Advanced Study in Building and District Administration along the way. In his 24 years as an educator he has taught high school biology, earth science, IB Biology, forensics, and is currently an Assistant Principal at Young Women’s College Preparatory Charter School in Rochester. Over the past several years he has lead fellow science teachers into a more immersive Argument Driven Inquiry model learning that provides more opportunities for investigating natural phenomena and using evidence to back up scientific claims from first hand experimental data. It is his hope that students can go at least partly back to the days where they constantly explored the world around them while also using the technology available to them to make better sense of it all.

Andi’s teaching and leadership are driven by the values of curiosity, belonging, and growth. She has taught science at East Upper School since 2015 and served in the role of Teacher Leader since 2019. To Andi, an equitable and justice-oriented science classroom must include investigation of questions that are relevant to students as well as prioritizing student voice in how things run.

Andi’s previous work with the Phase II Noyce Master Teacher Fellowship and with the Get Real! Science program at the University of Rochester have facilitated their exploration of how building students’ academic confidence through explicit feedback to group work strengths, having students reflect on their own values and how they enact them, and how discourse can support engagement in the science practices.

Marie Rice is an urban educator and teacher leader within the Rochester City School District.  Over the past 24 years, she has held roles as an elementary teacher, instructional coach, mentor, International Baccalaureate teacher, and professional development provider. While currently serving as a kindergarten teacher, she has taught all grades from K-5 while also providing a wide array of professional learning opportunities for her colleagues. She is also a facilitator for several professional learning opportunities through the University of Rochester’s Warner School of Education on topics including Computer Science and Digital Fluency, Coding in the Elementary Classroom, Integrating Science and Engineering Practices, and Content Focused Coaching. She was a Phase II Noyce Master Teaching Fellow at the University of Rochester where she received her Doctorate of Education in 2020. Her dissertation work centered on the importance of teaching computer science and coding beginning in kindergarten.  Marie is passionate about harnessing the power of teaching and learning STEAM in order to provide all learners with the support and challenge needed to become successful in school and beyond. Much of her work is focused on the importance of providing students with opportunities to engage in authentic learning experiences, rich discourse, and cultivating self-directed learners.

Brittany has been teaching math at East Upper School for the past 9 years in the City of Rochester. She participated in the Phase II Noyce Master Teacher Fellowship through the University of Rochester during which time she developed a strong passion for providing equitable opportunities for all students in STEM education. Brittany believes that learning is social and it is important for students to engage in mathematical discourse to deepen their understanding of mathematics. The foundations to her daily practice are grounded in an inquiry-based approach to teaching and learning in which students explore and construct their understandings. She believes it is important to embrace mistakes as opportunities to learn and to develop a growth mindset in her students. Brittany has a core belief that all students are able to learn and do math at the highest levels and it is her job to help her students live up to their potential.

Frank Straub is a dedicated science teacher with a deep passion for fostering curiosity and scientific inquiry among his students. His teaching philosophy centers on experiential, project-based learning, designed to ignite a lifelong love of science. Frank began his career as an informal science educator at the Paleontological Research Institution and New York State Parks, where he developed a strong foundation in science education. For the past 16 years, he has taught middle school physical and life science. In his classroom, Frank emphasizes hands-on learning experiences that integrate science with other disciplines, creating memorable and impactful educational opportunities, such as students competing in regional science fairs and participating in Science Olympiad teams. Frank views science education as a conduit for social change, empowering students to make meaningful contributions to their communities and beyond.

Fred has been teaching 7-12 mathematics in the rural district of Dansville, NY for over 25 years. He has been in many leadership roles within the district and has taught nearly all levels of secondary math from math 7 to Pre-Calculus.  As a NOYCE Master Teacher Fellowship alumnus, Fred has sought to create a digitally rich classroom where all students can thrive through investigative teaching and learning.

Over the last 5 years Fred has brought into being a 3 course computer science pathway at the high school level that opens up various coding opportunities and offers students the ability to challenge the AP Computer Science Principles course.  He has also led professional learning opportunities for fellow educators within Dansville CSD on tuning up lessons and assessments to be more engaging and digitally rich.

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.