Kathryn L. Atkins is the Director of the Wade Institute for Science Education at Manomet Conservation Sciences. She brings 20 years of conservation and science education experience – both in formal and informal environments – to her work with us, and into her design and delivery of science pedagogy and content support for teachers, schools and school districts. She earned her MSEd in Secondary Science from Lehman College, and an MS in Conservation Biology from the University of Wisconsin/Madison. Kathryn taught middle school science in the NYC public school system, with problem-based learning as the driver for her teaching. In support of her Conservation Biology degree, she conducted primatological field research in Costa Rica and Uganda. Prior to joining the Wade Institute, Kathryn called the zoo community her professional home – most recently with the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo. Kathryn is thrilled to return to the conservation world by joining Manomet’s staff – and expanding their outstanding education work to include a focus on teachers, as well as all adult learners. Exploring the outdoors and creative pursuits are an important part of Kathryn’s life – and she especially appreciates science’s ability to foster creativity.

Kara Doherty is the Education Manager for the Wade Institute for Science Education at Manomet’s Professional Learning Programs. Kara holds a Master’s Degree in Curriculum & Instruction with a specialization in English as a second language. Before joining Manomet, Kara taught at the elementary level, where she developed a strong appreciation for both the rewards and challenges of classroom teaching. Kara is passionate about bringing high-quality, engaging professional learning opportunities to educators that are looking for a balance of science content and best pedagogical practices. At Manomet, she is looking forward to expanding the reach of Wade Institute programming to new locations and partnerships. When she isn’t working, you can find Kara reading, dancing, listening to podcasts, or crafting.

Sharon Kabelitz is excited to share her 20+ years of science education experience with teachers and students through the Wade Institute for Science Education at Manomet Conservation Sciences.  This is Sharon’s third act. After graduation from Oklahoma University, she spent 15 years as a Training Manager in health care organizations before deciding to follow her passion of working with younger humans. Next, Sharon worked as a naturalist, volunteering for school programs.  After earning her Master’s of Science Education from Cambridge College, she launched into her next act as a middle school science educator. Since then, Sharon has shared her love of the natural world with hundreds of young scientists, helping them cultivate their observation and curiosity of the world around them. When Sharon is not working with teachers or students, you can likely find her in the water; she is a swim instructor,  and she enjoys paddle boarding and swimming in most bodies of water.  She is hoping to get her dog, Neptune, to join her on her board. She also shares her home with her husband, son, and their cat Luna.

Leslie is dedicated to helping science teachers shift how they think about their role in the classroom. She brings over 2 decades of experience in middle and high school science, math, and STEM education. She believes strongly in the ability of ALL students to achieve at high levels and the need for schools to shift their practices to meet the changing demands of students and of society. She is passionate about designing and delivering high quality professional learning experiences that educators can both use today and that shift their thinking for the long term.

Leslie earned her Bachelors degree from Washington University in St. Louis and her Masters degree from Indiana University-Bloomington. She later participated in the Educator Leadership Initiative (ELI) through Endicott College to earn her administrator licensure.

At Manomet, Leslie enjoys designing and facilitating professional learning that supports teachers and administrators in implementing OpenSciEd curriculum and that helps us all continue to make the shifts in curriculum and pedagogy outlined by NGSS and the MA 2016 Frameworks. Outside of work Leslie enjoys running, gardening, playing in the mountains, and spending time with her husband, 2 kids, 2 cats, and 1 dog.

Regan McKinnon is the Education Manager for Customized School Programs at the Wade Institute for Science Education at Manomet Conservation Sciences, focusing on supporting science teachers with high-quality professional learning. He holds a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Massachusetts Boston through the Boston Teacher Residency. Before joining Manomet, Regan was in the classroom for 7 years in Boston Public Schools as a middle and high school science teacher and participated in the field testing of OpenSciEd. After stepping out of the classroom, he worked at Boston College’s OEI Initiative, supporting the HS field test in MA. Regan is passionate about equity in education and the shifts in NGSS, particularly through the use of high-quality instructional materials. At Manomet, he is excited to continue Wade’s mission of supporting science teachers through informative, reflective programs. When he’s not working on school programs, Regan enjoys cooking, hiking, and spending time with family, friends, and his two cats.

Rosemary Rak is an Education Specialist with the Wade Institute for Science Education at Manomet Conservation Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Lesley University and an M.S. in Marine Biology from Southeastern MA University (now UMass Dartmouth). Before starting her role as an education specialist, she worked for more than 32 years for Taunton Public Schools as a high school biology teacher and science curriculum supervisor. She sees her role as an education specialist aligning well with Manomet’s focus on quality science and impactful collaboration to improve the health of the environment. She is committed to helping teachers deliver high quality science instruction to K-12 students. She collaborates with colleagues to design and deliver meaningful professional learning experiences to science educators. She also supports the Wade Institute’s commitment to high quality professional learning by designing evaluation tools and reporting on participant feedback. During her free time, she enjoys nature walks, shoreline explorations, and spending time with family.