Executive Director, School Science & Technology
Wallace Dominey is a native Houstonian who received his B.A. from the University of Texas (1975) and his Ph.D. in Neurobiology & Behavior from Cornell University (1981). His research in field biology and ecology included the first extensive underwater observations on North American freshwater fishes and the discovery of new species of cichlid fishes in West Africa.
In 1997, Dr. Dominey joined the Center for Education to make a contribution to K-12 science education. Since then, Dr. Dominey has developed programs of systemic change in science education for Houston area school districts. These programs include Aldine ISD's campus-based science specialist program and the Rice University Elementary Model Science Lab program.
Dr. Dominey also directs the Rice Regional Collaborative for Excellence in Science Teaching and served as 2007-08 and 2008-09 president of MATS, the Metropolitan Association of Teachers of Science.
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Associate Director
David Fernandez earned his B.S. from Cornell University (1985) and then taught middle school and high school in his native Florida.
He graduated from Montana State University with his M.S. (1993) and the University of Kentucky with his Ph.D. (1997).
After completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Wisconsin, David taught at universties in California and Texas from 1999 to 2006, reaching the level of associate professor at California State Polytechnic University. His research involved understanding the brain mechanisms that control reproductive function.
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Assistant Director
Andrew Kapral earned a B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy from Illinois Wesleyan University. After graduation he joined Teach for America, a national core of teachers serving in low income communities. For two years Andrew taught fourth and fifth grade science at Coop Elementary School in Houston ISD. During this time he participated in the Rice Elementary Model Science Lab program. Currently, Andrew is Assistant Director for Science Education working to develop elementary science curriculum resources.
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Assistant Director
K. Dana Sjostrom received her BSc in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Alberta (2003) in Edmonton, Canada. There she conducted research as a field technician studying population dynamics of insects including the forest tent caterpillar and Rocky Mountain Apollo butterfly, among others.
Dana earned her teaching certificate through College of the Mainland (2007) in Texas City and taught science and math for nearly three years at Galveston Catholic School in Galveston, creating a science environment both challenging and fun for kindergarten through 6th grade. She secured funding from the BP A+ for Energy Grant for two successive years while teaching in order to provide her students with access to hands-on learning experiences. Dana is currently employed at Rice University as Assistant Director in the Center for Education where she develops elementary science curriculum and works with teachers to encourage innovative science teaching practices in elementary and middle schools.
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Associate Director
Chris, “C. J.,” Thompson received a B.S. in Education from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. His first teaching job was in Houston ISD as a middle-school science teacher. His eight years in HISD included a year at the Lanier/Rice Model Lab. C. J. taught two years at Westfield High School in Spring ISD before beginning a new career as a Science Specialist in Aldine ISD as part of a new program begun by Wallace Dominey, Rice Center for Education. While working as a Science Specialist in Aldine ISD, C. J. completed a Masters Degree from Mississippi State University in Geoscience. C. J. is currently the Associate Lab Director for Teacher Training at the Rice Elementary Model Science Lab at Sanchez Elementary, Houston ISD.
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Associate Director
Lisa Webber is Associate Director of Program Support for School Science & Technology’s RICE/HISD Elementary Model Science Lab (REMSL). Lisa has been an elementary teacher and science content specialist for Houston ISD. She was also a teacher Resident in the Rice Model Science Lab at Lanier Middle School.
Prior to joining HISD, Lisa worked as an Elephant Trainer at the Houston and St. Louis Zoos. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Geology from Illinois State University in 1982 and has worked for both the Department of Defense and the U.S. Geological Survey. Lisa is looking forward to working with the elementary science teachers in REMSL to enhance their science content and science pedagogy.
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Program Coordinator
Colleen LaBorde received a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies from the Univeristy of Houston. She taught third grade in Alief ISD for five years. She briefly worked with a private tutorial company before moving to the Holocaust Museum Houston where she served as the elementary Associate Director of Educational Outreach. Colleen is currently the Program Coordinator for School Science & Technology.
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Staff Assistant
Mary Wemple graduated from the University of Houston with a B.A. in English and Italian. Prior to joining School Science and Technology in February 2008, she was employed for over three years as the Program Assistant for the Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services Tobacco Prevention Initiative.
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Staff Assistant
Vicki Woods graduated from the University of Texas-San Antonio, with a B.A in Business Administration. Before coming to Rice University she worked as a substitute teacher and a counselor's assistant with Galena Park ISD. Vicki is currently a Staff/Lab assistant for the RICE/HISD Elementary Model Science Lab, located at Sanchez Elementary. |
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