Meet the Staff
Faculty
Jeff Armentrout (Physics of Roller Coasters)
Jeff Armentrout is a co-instructor of the Physics of Roller Coasters class with Burton Barrager. Jeff teaches 8th grade Earth Science at Canyon Park Junior High School in the Northshore School District. He has 11 years of experience teaching Earth Science, Physical Science and Math. Jeff has a Master’s in Teaching degree from the University of Washington.
Burton Barrager (Physics of Roller Coasters)
Burton is a co-instructor in the Physics of Roller Coasters class with Jeff Armentrout. He teaches 7th grade Life Science and 8th grade Earth Science for the Northshore School District at Leota Junior High in Woodinville, WA. Burton has a Bachelor of Science degree in Oceanography and a Masters in Teaching degree, both from the University of Washington. He also earned National Board Certification for Professional Teaching Standards in 2006.
Bruce Cameron (Physics of Roller Coasters)
Bruce Cameron is a co-instructor for the Physics of Roller Coasters class. He has a B.S. in Oceanography and a Masters in Teaching from the University of Washington. Bruce currently teaches science to energetic 9th graders at Canyon Park Junior High in Bothell.
Paige Chant (Word! A Call to Creative Thinkers, Writers, & Artists and Those Who Wanna Be)
Paige is a first year student in the Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program at the University of Washington where she also teaches English 131 (Composition) to undergraduate students. She spent the last couple years traveling abroad, where she taught English as a foreign language to high school students in France and Spain. However, even though her light work schedule abroad left her plenty of time to write, she is a homebody at heart and is just as content to write her stories here in Seattle–where, for the first time in her life, she gets to wear galoshes!
Peter Donaldson (Puget Sound 2050)
Peter Donaldson is a master storyteller, educator, and community organizer who tours the Pacific Northwest in two one-man shows: “Leonardo da Vinci,” and “Salmonpeople.” Mr. Donaldson’s “Leonardo” was recently staged at the State Theater in Olympia. He received the national award for Youth Theater Director of the Year from the American Alliance for Theater and Education in 1991, and has over 25 years experience as a curriculum designer and teacher of teachers, creating numerous public school partnerships integrating history, science, economics and civics through theater, dance, drawing, and writing. For more information about Peter, visit his website.
Jeramy Gee (The Meaning of Life)
Jeramy Gee is a third year graduate student in the University of Washington’s Philosophy department where he is looking for a dissertation topic. Jeramy’s philosophical interests lie primarily in ethics, ancient philosophy, philosophy of science, and philosophy of religion. His other interests include all things outdoors, bow-making and archery, boxing, and medieval European martial systems. No stranger to education, Jeramy previously taught high school Biology and General Science and he is also an instructor at Sylvan Learning Center. This is his second year teaching for Summer Challenge.
Ana Larson (The Physics of Roller Coasters)
Ana Larson is a co-instructor for the Physics of Roller Coasters class. She has a B.S. in Physics and Astronomy from the University of Washington and a PhD in Physics from the University of Victoria. Ana is currently teaching Astronomy at the University of Washington.
Jared Nance (Minding Our Matter)
Jared Nance is a 2nd year graduate student in the department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Washington where he is studying experimental Nuclear Physics. Born and raised in Topeka, Kansas, he has a BS in Physics from Beloit College in Wisconsin, and has studied Physics at two national laboratories and two major research universities. Jared is very interested in how people learn physics, and has taught several levels of Physics and Mathematics to pupils of all ages. This is Jared’s second year teaching a Summer Challenge class.
Granya O’Neill (Math Topics)
Granya O’Neill is on the math faculty of Lakeside School. She is also the math team coach for Seattle Country Day School and Lakeside. She received a Masters in Mathematics from the University of California at Davis. Granya has taught Math Topics here in Summer Challenge for several years.
Fritzie Reisner (Mathematical Modeling)
Dr. Fritzie Reisner is the Math Curriculum Specialist for Advanced Learning in the Seattle School District. Her long career in teaching has included positions at both UC Berkeley and the University of Washington teaching graduate level statistics and quantitative modeling to students in professional schools, teaching in the Accelerated Progress Program at Lowell Elementary and Washington Middle School, and coaching math teachers at Washington and Lowell who teach highly gifted students. Fritzie is passionate about helping young people experience the beauty of mathematics, particularly in the context of solving complex problems that may be “off the beaten path”. Professionally she is a specialist in the mathematically gifted adolescent.
Jeanette Sanchez (Villains!) is a PhD candidate at the University of Washington in the School of Drama. She studied acting in the BFA program at the University of New Mexico where she also earned her MA in Educational Theatre and Directing. She worked as a Drama School intern at the Seattle Children’s Theatre and remains on the staff there selling tickets while finishing her dissertation on the use of ancient Aztec and Greek mythological characters in contemporary Chicano productions of plays. She also teaches Theatre and Performance Studies courses at UW-Bothell including Theatre for Young Audiences, Latino Theatre for Social Change and Utopia in Performance. She has spent two years working with children using theatre to explore their world and express themselves. She is particularly excited to focus on Villains! this summer!
Charlene Short (Energy)
Charlene Short teaches 8th Grade Science and Tech at Tolt Middle School in the Riverview School District. She has 15 years of teaching experience in the middle grades, specializing in Earth and Physical Sciences. Charlene is recognized in the teaching community for her work in curriculum modification to meet the needs of exceptional students. This is Charlene’s third year teaching a Summer Challenge class.
Teaching Assistants
TA’s are typically University of Washington undergraduate students.
Staff
Dr. Maren Halvorsen is the Associate Director and Principal for Summer Programs and the Principal of the Transition School. Dr. Halvorsen received her Ph.D. in History from the University of Washington in 2002 with a focus on Early Modern Europe, with special interest in medieval and early modern spirituality. She has taught numerous courses for the UW Department of History, ranging from freshmen general education classes to advanced senior seminars. She joined the Robinson Center in 1990.
Carol Hayes is the Program Coordinator for Transition School and Summer Programs. She joined the Robinson Center in May 2007, coming from the Registrar’s Office here at UW, and having previously worked for 15 years in the K-12 system and at Oregon State University.