EnCorps Success Stories

With an average of 15 years of STEM industry experience, EnCorps EDUCATORS aren’t just teaching theory, they’re bringing it to life! We highlight below how EnCorps Teachers and STEMx Tutors ignite a passion for STEM in their students by sharing their own career journeys and industry knowledge.

If you’re interested in exploring a teaching career or tutoring math online, learn more about our STEM Teachers Program and the STEMx Tutors Program.

Celebrating Success

SPOTLIGHT

Kathleen Essex

Kathleen Essex

STEM Industry Experience: 25 years

Teaching Experience: 3 years

STEM Expertise: Mathematics

Grades and Subjects Taught:
8th Math and Engineering/AP Comp Sci

Quote:
In Engineering, 90% of the curriculum I developed is project based. One of the students favorite units was building a bridge with Legos.

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Kathleen Essex

In Engineering, 90% of the curriculum I developed is project based. One of the students favorite units was building a bridge with Legos. The unit introduced constraints and the lowest ‘cost’ bridge that met load bearing constraints and a toy car could pass under was awarded the contract to officially build the bridge.

My experience in the Engineering and Computer Programming makes me different from teachers without STEM industry experience, because I have concrete examples of WHY the Engineering Design Process and the System Design Life Cycle are important and will improve projects at school, at work and even in their personal life. Students love to hear about my projects and my mistakes in industry.

Felix Adabla

Felix Adabla

STEM Industry Experience: 7 years

Tutoring Experience: 2 years

Quote:
Throughout our lives, there are defining moments that shape us into who we are.

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Felix Adabla

Throughout our lives, there are defining moments that shape us into who we are. For me, one such transformative experience has been my involvement as a volunteer virtual middle-school math tutor with EnCorps. This piece aims to highlight some meaningful impacts I have had on my student and the profound personal growth I have experienced throughout my journey. As I continue to pursue my passion for education, I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to society and empower the next generation.

David Bartholomew

David Bartholomew

STEM Industry Experience: 20 years

Teaching Experience: 7 years

STEM Expertise: Mathematics and CTE

Grades and Subjects Taught:
9th, 10th, 11th and 12th - Algebra 1, Geometry, Computer Integrated Manufacturing

Quote:
I have created a "thinking classroom" having moved away from traditional teaching, towards a more dynamic, student-centered classroom.

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David Bartholomew

I have created a “thinking classroom” having moved away from traditional teaching, towards a more dynamic, student-centered classroom.

I embrace technology, am not afraid of change, and know the importance of problem-solving skills over computational skills.

Bob (Robert C.) Capriles

Bob (Robert C) Capriles

STEM Industry Experience: 20 years

Teaching Experience: 12.5 years

STEM Expertise: Mathematics, Engineering & Architecture

Grades and Subjects Taught:
9, 10, 11, 12 - Mathematics and Project Lead The Way Engineering

Quote:
I love seeing students experience their own magnificence! I especially like teaching credit recovery math classes.

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Bob (Robert C) Capriles

I love seeing students experience their own magnificence! I especially like teaching credit recovery math classes. Most of the students who come into my classroom for these classes think and have probably been told that they can’t do math for a long time. I work to develop relationships with the students and build their confidence as mathematicians. The most rewarding part is when the students completes the course as they realize that they CAN do math as well as they can do something that is really hard for them and SUCCEED.

Robert McKay

Robert McKay

STEM Industry Experience: 25 years

Teaching Experience: 6 years

STEM Expertise: Health Science

Grades and Subjects Taught:
9-12 grade - Biology, AP Bio, PLTW Biomed Innovations

Quote:
My students create local solutions to global climate change issues.

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Robert McKay

My students create local solutions to global climate change issues. These projects help them see that they can use STEM principals at a very local level to help address global issues if they can be replicated over much of the planet.

I had a student in my AP bio class this year who began writing music that related to our topics. She was strong musician, but that didn’t alone explain how incredible her music was. She had clearly been inspired by the biology we discussed and how it explained the natural world around her. She let those feelings flow into her music (which sometimes had lyrics and sometimes was just instrumental). It was hard for me not to cry when listening. That experience alone was more rewarding than anything that happened in my 25 year biotech career. And I have a lot of these kinds of stories.

I have 25 years of biotech experience and I find that students really enjoy hearing me explain how biotech works and how we use the same biology principles we are learning in class. So relevancy. I often bring in past colleagues as guest speakers and that helps a lot with keeping things fresh and interesting.

Christian Royer

Christian Royer

STEM Industry Experience: 8 years

Teaching Experience: 2 years

STEM Expertise: Physics

Grades and Subjects Taught:
11th Honors Physics

Quote:
I had 1 on 1s with each student during their project check ins and we all talked about what they envision for themselves after high school.

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Christian Royer

I had 1 on 1s with each student during their project check ins and we all talked about what they envision for themselves after high school. I was able to give them insight into different careers and connect students with councilors and other people in the field so they can learn more about the fields.