About Us
Started in spring 2015, FLASTEM fosters learning of STEM with a focus in Computing (STEM+C) and Robotics in K-12 and provide connected learning opportunities to a diverse group of elementary, middle, and high school students. The mission is to engage the underrepresented and varied group of k-12 students and spark an interest in robotics, programming & technology by providing hands-on workshops and project-based learning beyond the classrooms.
Learning computer programming and technology have become an essential requirement in every research and study major. With active learning engagements through self-guided workshops and do-it-yourself activities beyond the classrooms, FLASTEM plans to increase K-12 engagement in Robotics and Coding so that the students are well prepared for future learning choices and identify with technology and computer programming disciplines. The outreach initiative also promotes learning of 21st-century soft skills including creativity, problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaborative learning to build students' understanding in these fields and unlock the potential to tackle current and future challenges faced by communities.
Our program is run by high-school students who have a background in robotics and computer science and a passion for serving their local communities. Using an innovative approach to student mentoring and volunteerism, these young volunteers can reach K-12 students who have never had previous exposure to these fields and break down the misconceptions and instill a can-do attitude in younger generation by educating them about the importance of being technology-savvy in the 21st century. We plan to impact learning outcomes not only in the local school districts of the Tampa Bay region but also, are reaching out to like-minded educators and mentors across the country.
Learning computer programming and technology have become an essential requirement in every research and study major. With active learning engagements through self-guided workshops and do-it-yourself activities beyond the classrooms, FLASTEM plans to increase K-12 engagement in Robotics and Coding so that the students are well prepared for future learning choices and identify with technology and computer programming disciplines. The outreach initiative also promotes learning of 21st-century soft skills including creativity, problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaborative learning to build students' understanding in these fields and unlock the potential to tackle current and future challenges faced by communities.
Our program is run by high-school students who have a background in robotics and computer science and a passion for serving their local communities. Using an innovative approach to student mentoring and volunteerism, these young volunteers can reach K-12 students who have never had previous exposure to these fields and break down the misconceptions and instill a can-do attitude in younger generation by educating them about the importance of being technology-savvy in the 21st century. We plan to impact learning outcomes not only in the local school districts of the Tampa Bay region but also, are reaching out to like-minded educators and mentors across the country.
Team
Team members from local middle and high schools will be introduced soon!
Alumni
Nikhil Sharma founded FLASTEM in spring 2015. A Lakewood High 2017 graduate and valedictorian, Nikhil is currently a sophomore at UC Berkeley majoring in Computer Science.
Adriana Nazarko worked as an outreach coordinator and is currently a sophomore at Bowdoin College pursuing medical studies.
Daniel Denison contributed as an outreach coordinator and is currently a sophomore at the UCF, Orlando pursuing a major in Computer Science.
Michael Froid volunteered as an outreach coordinator and is currently a sophomore at Brown University pursuing Computer Science.
Ethan Smith worked as an outreach coordinator and is currently a sophomore at UCF, Orlando pursuing Robotics and Computer Science.
Will Shedden contributed as an outreach coordinator and is currently a sophomore at Eckerd College pursuing Political Science.
Executive Advisors
Robin P McGowan
Vice President, Pinellas Education Foundation
Director, Ford NGL Innovation Center
Vice President, Pinellas Education Foundation
Director, Ford NGL Innovation Center
Peter Oberg is the retired program director (CAT) at Lakewood High School in Florida. He holds an honors degree from Northeastern University, Master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University and additional graduate studies at Boston University, Rhode Island College, University of South Florida, and Wesleyan University. He is the Assistant Principal and Program Director at the Center for Advanced Technologies, a nationally recognized program of excellence which has been honored by Newsweek Magazine as one of the top 25 high schools in the United States. He serves as the coordinator for Lakewood High School’s Design Studio, one of 9 national sites since 2004. He is a professional Small Learning Community consultant for numerous schools and districts that seek assistance in creating Small Learning Communities from traditional high school environments as well as being a practitioner – advisor working through Education Northwest and SERVE. Mr. Oberg also serves as treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors of the Southeast Coalition of Essential Schools. He is sought after as a presenter and speaker for conferences and seminars nationwide.Mr. Oberg has received many nominations for ‘Teacher of the Year’ award at district, regional, and national levels. He has received recognition for his community contributions from Muscular Dystrophy Association, Music Educators National Conference, American Music Conference, National Science Foundation, National Science Teachers Association, The Shriners of North America and Rotary International.
Sriram Chellappan is an Associate Professor in The Department of Computer Science and Engineering at University of South Florida, where he directs the SCoRe (Social Computing Research) Lab. His primary interests lie in many aspects of how Society and Technology interact with each other, particularly within the realms of Smart Health and Cyber Security. He is also interested in Mobile and Wireless Networking, Cyber-Physical Systems, Distributed and Cloud Computing. Sriram's research is supported by grants from National Science Foundation, Department of Education, Army Research Office, National Security Agency, DARPA and Missouri Research Board. Prior to this appointment, he was an Associate Professor in the Computer Science Dept. at Missouri University of Science and Technology. Sriram received the PhD degree in Computer Science and Engineering from The Ohio-State University in 2007. Sriram received the NSF CAREER Award in 2013. He also received the Missouri S&T Faculty Excellence Award in 2014, the Missouri S&T Outstanding Teaching Commendation Award in 2014, and the Missouri S&T Faculty Research Award in 2015.
Laura Spence currently serves as the K-12 STEM Specialist for Pinellas County Schools, Florida. She has established 220 after school STEM Academies impacting more than 4,400 students. During 1997, Laura began her post-secondary education at Rhode Island College earning a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, a Master’s degree in Reading from Providence College and a Master’s degree in Science from the University of Texas. For a term of 3 years, Laura served on the NSTA Committee of Professional Development where she helped to feature best science instructional practices and assessed NSTA conference session proposals. Laura currently hosts an award winning STEM television series, WPDS Ch14 Science Rocks Pinellas that can be found on YouTube “Science Rocks Pinellas”, which highlights STEM concepts and events throughout the state of Florida. In 2008, Laura was selected by Pinellas County Schools as the Most Valuable Science Teacher and was recognized for this award during the National Science Teachers Association Conference in New Orleans.
Chad Mairn is a librarian, teacher, author, and self-described geek who frequently shares his enthusiasm for 'all-things technology' as a speaker at library and technology conferences. He is an Information Services Librarian, Assistant Professor, and manages the Innovation Lab at St. Petersburg College. In October 2015, the Innovation Lab received a $7,500 Curiosity Creates grant from the Walt Disney Company in collaboration with ALA’s Association for Library Service to Children to expand their successful Maker Boot Camp series that helps “promote exploration and discovery for children ages 6 to 14.” Imagination and originality, flexibility, decision-making, communication and self-expression, collaboration, and motivation are the critical components of creativity that the Maker Boot Camp has integrated into their curriculum. Here is the Maker Boot Camp documentary film. While an undergraduate studying Humanities at the University of South Florida (USF), Chad was awarded a Library of Congress Fellowship archiving Leonard Bernstein's personal papers. During his Library and Information Science (LIS) graduate work, also at USF, Chad became a technology liaison between the Bill Gates Learning Foundation and Florida public libraries. Much of Chad's recent interests have focused around mobile and emerging technologies. Chad has written a couple of book chapters and numerous articles on library technologies. Chad also plays drums in two bands, Fowler's Bluff and Low Season, and he also organizes Pinellas Comic and Maker Con, which is held each year at the St. Petersburg College Seminole Campus in Florida.
Faculty Mentors
LaFrance "Joe" Clarke Jr. has been teaching English for 20 years in Pinellas County Schools. He has a BA in English from FSU, an MA in English Education from USFSP, an MA in Educational Leadership from USF Tampa and is currently a PhD student at USF Tampa in Educational Leadership. He has also taught as an adjunct instructor at Eckerd College, USF, HCC, and SPC. He is the founder and a co-facilitator of Pinellas Park High School's STEM club and have volunteered as a judge and guest panelist at state and local STEM competitions. Mr. Clarke's research interests concern STEM and social justice, including how strategic community partnerships subvert systemic inequities in education. This includes the use of STEM grants and STEM projects that focus on instilling perseverance among underrepresented populations in schools and the use of other community assets to enrich existing curricula and experiential learning.
Jason Ness is a has been teaching Foundation of Robotics, Robotic Design Essentials, Robotic Systems, Robotic Applications Capstone at Lakewood High School for over twelve years. He graduated from Eckerd College with a Business degree. Mr. Ness is the Faculty Adviser for the Lakewood Robotics Club.
Louis Zulli Jr. retired after working as an educator for 40 years, the past 23 as the IT Instructor and Network Administrator for the Center for Advanced Technologies. He is the 2011 Microsoft Partners in Learning US Forum and the 2011 Microsoft Partners in Learning Global Forum winner for the Cutting Edge Use of Technologies for Learning with the Network Operations ongoing SharePoint project Center for Advanced Technologies News and Information Portal (CATNIP). He is also a member of the team that won first place in the Partners in Learning Global Forum for Collaboration with the student created Kinect game “When Fish Fly”. Mr. Zulli is one of only two educators to have ever won first place twice at Microsoft’s Global Forum. Mr. Zulli is a proud alumnus of The Ohio State University and an avid golfer; he also rides a Harley and claims that everything he needs to know he learned from watching Star Trek.
Robert Tencza has been teaching AP Computer Science and C# Procedural Programming at Center for Advanced Technologies. In 1986, Mr. Tencza moved to Florida from New Jersey where he worked for Dun & Bradstreet in the Program Production and Testing Department. Prior to his teaching career, he worked for a few major corporations in the IT department. In 1994, Mr. Tencza accepted a position at CAT as a computer and biology teacher. He has seen the evolution of computer programming from Pascal (the original language taught at CAT), to C, C++, Java, and C#. In his spare time, Mr. Tencza plays as much league softball as possible, attending tournaments throughout the country during the year.