Summer Stretch - Meet the Staff
Faculty
Bennett Barr (The Elements of Deduction)
Bennett Barr is a Ph.D. candidate in philosophy at the University of Washington, working in metaethics,
normative ethics and applied ethics. In addition to teaching for the philosophy department, Bennett is
the ethics instructor for the Robinson Center's transition school.
Elizabeth Burton (Precalculus)
Elizabeth earned a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Washington in 1998, and has taught a
wide range of mathematics courses at the University of Washington and at Highline Community College.
She spent three years training teaching assistants at U.W., helping them to become more effective
mathematics teachers. She currently runs her own math tutoring business
(www.mindfulmathtutoring.com), helping high school
and college students, and adults, improve their math skills.
Royce Christensen (Integrated III Math)
Royce Christensen is currently a Mathematics and English teacher at Roosevelt High School. Royce earned
his B.A in English, with a Mathematics minor, at the University of Montana, and his M.A. in Mathematics
Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Nick Grossenbacher (Essay Writing)
Nick Grossenbacher is a Ph.D. student in the History Department at the University of Washington, where
he specializes in the cultural and intellectual history of Byzantium and the medieval Middle East.
He received his B.A. from the University of Southern California’s honors college and has studied
archaeology at the University of Edinburgh and Arabic language and literature at the University of
Damascus. He has been a teaching assistant in the History Department for two years and has taught
classes for a private tutoring company on essay composition, writing for history, and writing for
standardized tests.
Judith Jones Hall (Algebra 1 & 2)
Judith Jones Hall has a B.A. in Education from the University of Washington, a Masters of Education
from Seattle Pacific University, Mathematics Endorsement from Seattle Pacific University, and a Doctor
of Education (Mathematics) from SPU. She is currently a mathematics teacher at Holy Names Academy in
Seattle, WA.
Curtis Hisayasu (American Literature)
Curtis Hisayasu is a Graduate Instructor in the English Department at the University of Washington and
is currently pursuing a PhD in 19th and 20th Century American Literature. He has also taught several
classes for the English Department and is currently serving as a liaison between the UW Extension "UW
in the High Schools" Program and the Expository Writing Program, training teachers and coordinating
college level composition curriculum in local area schools. In his third year of graduate school,
Curtis is working towards his qualifying exams. His current research interests include theories of
citizenship and national belonging, American urbanism, and critical race theory.
Grace Kim (Biology)
Grace Kim earned a B.S in Biology and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Washington. She is
currently teaching science at Daniel Webster Middle School in Los Angeles, CA through Teach for America.
At Webster MS she is an advisor for the MESA (Math Engineering Science Achievement) team and a mentor
for Los Angeles Team Works. She has also been a part of the Summer Stretch Biology teaching team for
three years.
Natalya Leshchyshyn (Geometry)
Natalya Leshchyshyn was born in Lviv, Ukraine. She earned her BA and Masters in Physics and Mathematics
at Lviv State University, graduating with honors. She then taught Physics for three years in the Lviv
secondary school system. In 1997 she attended Trinity Western University in British Columbia, studying
English; after this she immigrated to the United States and obtained a teaching certificate from
Washington State. She has been working as a teacher for the Seattle School District since 2001,
teaching a variety of math classes at Franklin High School and currently at Roosevelt High School.
She has also taught Physics and Math for the North Seattle Upward Bound Program for the past five
summers.
Jean Lutgen (Integrated 1)
Jean Lutgen has a B.A. in Mathematics from Seattle Pacific University. She is currently a mathematics
teacher at Roosevelt High School.
Mark Morrow (Chemistry)
Mark Morrow has a B.A. in Biology from Cornell University and a M.S. in Secondary Science Education
from Long Island University. He has been teaching Chemistry & Advanced Placement Chemistry for more
than 13 years, and is currently on the faculty at Bellevue High School.
Gary Pounder (Integrated 2)
Gary Pounder has been teaching mathematics in Washington Middle School's APP program for 25 years
and is the school's Math Team coach. He has taught Integrated 2 for the Summer Stretch Program
several times. Gary lives in Bothell with his wife and son.
Jeannine Sieler (Chemistry)
Jeannine Sieler has a B.S. and M.A. in Chemistry from the University of Puget Sound. She earned her
National Board Certification in November, 2006, and has been teaching Chemistry & Advanced Placement
Chemistry for 25 years. Jeannine is currently on the faculty at Bellevue High School.
Christi Siver (Debate)
Christi Siver is a PhD Candidate in Political Science and the debate coach at the University of
Washington. She competed in debate in high school and as an undergraduate at Lewis and Clark
College. She is committed to debate as an educational method to increase critical thinking and
student involvement in the democratic process.
Bob Steele (Physics of Robotics)
Robert Steele has a B.A in Biology and Telecommunications, a B.S. in Microbiology, and an M.S in
Environmental Science (Engineering) from Indiana University. Prior to his teaching career he worked
as an engineer for 15 years. He has taught Physics and Advanced Placement Physics in high school for
over 9 years and is currently on the faculty of Aviation High School in the Highline School District
teaching Robotics Engineering, AP Physics and Aerospace engineering. He is also the Head Coach for
the Aviation High School "Skunkworks" FIRST Robotics Team.
Teaching Assistants
TA bios will be available online in June 2008.
Staff
Dr. Maren Halvorsen is the Associate Director for Bridge Programs, as well as the Principal of summer programs and the History instructor for the Transition School/Early Entrance Program. She also administers the UW Academy's Jump-Start Program. 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, the Washington Search for Young Scholars, 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.