Bio-Rets Teacher Cohort 2026

Pamela Vanegas is a physics and chemistry teacher at Valley High School in Jefferson County Public Schools. This summer, she worked in Dr. Rachel Pigg's lab on two different projects. The first project with undergraduate Jessica Beach involved collecting and identifying ticks in three Louisville area parks to better understand the life cycles, the abundance, and the spread of different tick species. This data will be used in conjunction with previous data from the lab to better inform the public and government officials about the dangers of ticks and tickborne illnesses. The second project was conducted with PhD candidate Doris Proctor where preserved bird specimens from historical UofL collections were documented. Both projects allowed her to understand the interconnectedness of the natural world, and how this can affect the health and well-being of humans. Pamela wishes to bring this understanding to her classroom as she believes that the most crucial aspect of science education is to prepare students to be compassionate and prepared citizens when they graduate high school. In order to facilitate this in her own curriculum, she worked with Natalie Abram, Connor Adams, and Rae Matthew to create a database of local environmental justice topics aligned to each Disciplinary Core Idea Band, as well as an Incorporation Guide for how to bring those phenomena into the classroom while using the five frames developed by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Pamela hopes that this guide will be a valuable resource for all teachers who wish to bring to light how environmental injustices exist in their communities and empower students to become change makers for the future. 

Deirdre Johnson is a middle school science teacher in Jefferson County Public Schools (Dr. Grace James Academy of Excellence). This summer she worked with Dr. Jeffrey Masters conducting research on soil microbial diversity of disturbed vs. undisturbed areas near Beargrass Creek. Through the experience she learned valuable information about sample collection, using ecoplates to determine carbon sources of bacteria, Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCR), Gel electrophoresis, ArcGIS and DNA sequencing. This experience has helped her to develop a deeper sense of empathy for students who may be struggling to find a way to participate in science in a meaningful way. As an educator committed to equity she is now prepared to work with students of diverse backgrounds and help them find their voice and see themselves as scientists. She looks forward to bringing her experiences back to the classroom to expand access to equitable and rigorous science curriculum to the classroom.

Connor Adams is a biology teacher in Jefferson County Public Schools (duPont Manual High School). This summer he worked with Dr. Abolins-Abols and PhD candidate Helen Johnston researching the effects of ambient noise level on successful and unsuccessful American Robin nests. Through this experience, he gained valuable skills in field research and developing an experimental design based on field observations. As an educator that has taught in a variety of diverse middle schools throughout Jefferson County prior to this experience, Connor strives to ensure that scientific experiences are made available to all students regardless of their backgrounds or perceived limitations. He looks forward to bringing his experiences in field research as well as his newfound knowledge of local environmental justice phenomena into the classroom to help educate the next generation of scientists and problem-solvers.

Stephanie Rogers is a 7th grade science teacher at Noe Middle School in Jefferson County Public Schools. This summer she worked with PhD candidate Jenna Burns in Dr. Alicia Lackey’s lab conducting research on the effects of artificial light on fly circadian rhythms. The experience gave Stephanie valuable insight on the damaging effects of light pollution on ecosystems and the potential to investigate artificial light’s damaging effects of human circadian rhythms. As a science educator, Stephanie is excited to make her students active data collectors in their own communities and environments. She values the assets that each student has to observe their natural world, question the existing structures and dismantle the inequities rife within our local community. Stephanie believes that the best science education encourages learners to become active change agents in the world around them. Along with her peer Deidre Johnson, Stephanie created a tool to help educators restructure OpenSciEd units around an anchoring environmental justice problem. Her curriculum redesigns will help students view themselves as scientists and engage them deliberately in problem solving. 

Amandarae (Rae) Matthew is a middle school science teacher at Olmsted Academy South in Jefferson County Public Schools. This summer she worked with Dr. Jeffrey Masters conducting research about the soil microbial functional diversity of Beargrass Creek in Cherokee Park. From this experience, she learned about what a real science lab looks like and that research is not always as cut and dry as she initially thought. She learned that science can be messy and that's okay while also taking away a newfound appreciation for soil science and ecology. Rae is passionate about making her students feel connected to science and see themselves as scientists. Her work with Dr. Masters and the BIO-RETS program has provided inspiration for new ways to integrate environmental justice and lab work within her classroom. Her goal is to inspire students to use science as a tool to solve injustices and show students that science can be inclusive of everyone.

Susan Schneider is a social studies and Explore Pathways teacher in Jefferson County Public Schools (Thomas Jefferson Middle School). This summer she worked with Dr. Abolins-Abols doing field research on the effects of ambient noise on success of robin nests in the urban Green Heart initiative area.  Through this experience, she gained valuable skills in data collection and analysis while expanding her knowledge of scientific methods, and enriching her passion for conservation education and outdoor learning. As an educator committed to equity, Susan aims to increase diversity in science and social studies by encouraging students from all backgrounds to see themselves as scientists.  She looks forward to bringing her research experiences into her classroom next school year to ignite curiosity and expand student participation in STEM education.

Billy You is a Liberty Big Picture High School science teacher in Jefferson County. This summer, he has worked with Dr. Alycia Lackey, along with her Ph.D candidate, Jenna Burns, and cohort partner Stephanie Rogers, on the impact of light pollution on Walnut Husk Flies (Rhagoletis completa). In this summer research program, he was able to experience rigorous, higher-level academic research and processes in studies of living organisms, a rigor he champions in his own classroom. As an advocate for “Learn Science by Doing Science”, Billy is committed to bringing high-quality laboratory experiences to all students in his classroom, and this program has given him more ideas and tools to bring that to fruition. But more importantly, how to bridge the gap in environmental justice into the curriculum in a meaningful and impactful way. He hopes that, with this experience, he can drive more local environmental initiatives and get his students involved in local advocacy at various levels of interest.

Natalie Abram is a Biology/Anatomy teacher at Jefferson County Public Schools-JCPS (Jeffersontown HS).  During the summer, she selected Dr. Rachel M. Pigg’s Ecology Lab to conduct both field and laboratory research about tick biodiversity and pathogenic potential  in local parks. First, we were given a crash course into Tick Morphology and Microscopic Identification from a PhD candidate Mallory Harmel and supplemented identification with undergraduate researcher Jessica Beach.  Second, we were taught how to sample ticks with a 1m flag and sweeping motion during a 90m2 grid along 5 sampling points in 3 rural-urban gradient Jefferson County and Oldham County Parks (Horner UofL Conservatory, EP Tom Sawyer Park, Blackacre Nature Preserve) with hiking and trekking along rough terrain away from maintained trailheads. Third, we performed tick identification per site to create a sorted catalogue. The last aspect of research came from Graduate Student Doris Hoffman and her photographic catalogue of historically collected birds taxidermized and analyzed by UofL researchers from 1880s-1970s. This expansive project photographed 4 sides of each bird and their tags to make a virtual database before being moved to Auburn University’s Museum. She is interested in showing students how science works, highlight Environmental Justice Local examples to gain stronger engagement, and provide more opportunities for going outside in nature.