SCIENCE

David Guffey:

David Guffey, M. Ed (Co-PI) is the AISD Science department administrator whose responsibilities include district-wide supervision and administration of AISD ’s instructional programs for science teaching and learning. Mr. Guffey holds advanced degrees in both curriculum studies and educational administration, and has served for 18 years as a secondary science teacher, science curriculum specialist, campus administrator, director of secondary education and director of community relations and planning in Texas school districts before moving to his current position in AISD. He currently manages all of the Pre-K, elementary, middle and high school science specialists.

Alvenetta Henry:

Alvenetta Henry joined Austin Independent School District in June 2001 as a Day-care Director for the Pleasant Hill Employee Day Care. In October 2002 she became a Substitute Administrative Assistant traveling to a number of schools throughout the district. In September 2003 she was offered a position as a Secondary Secretary for the Social Studies Team as a full time employee. Wanting to learn more, she accepted a position with the Science Department in May 2008 where she is currently a Secondary Science Secretary. As a busy mother of one daughter, a senior at Charles Akins High School and Diamond Dazzler (Dance Team) she is also a booster club mom. In September 2008 Alvenetta joined the Seedling Foundation, a mentoring program through the district that reaches out to our youth in the community that have parent s who are incarcerated. When not working she volunteers for community service projects church activities. Her hobbies include cooking, camping, shopping, live music and Austin festivals.

Lisa Llanas:

 

 

 

 

Myrtle Lagron:

 

 

 

 

Aida Alanis:

 

 

 

 

Frieda Lamprecht:

Frieda Lamprecht is an Elementary Science Curriculum Specialist with the Science Department of Austin Independent School District. She holds a degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Science from the University of Texas at Austin. She has been in education for over 15 years, as a teacher working with at-risk students at Menchaca Elementary School, and later as a teacher at Casis Elementary. Her experiences include presenting and training teachers for over 12 years, writing, editing, and contributing to the development of a standardized, rigorous curriculum in science for over 12 years, and serving the science department as a teacher leader and mentor for 4 years before being asked to join the curriculum team.

Prior to her employment with Austin ISD, Ms. Lamprecht trained and developed leaders in the business community for over 17 years. Her passion there, as it is in education, was to build confidence in her managers by discovering their talents and strengths, working out from there to produce well-rounded, confident leaders.

She resides in Austin, Texas with her west highland terrier, Bailey.

Barbara ten Brink:

Dr. ten Brink is a fourth-generation Texan with the advantage of being a military dependent living in Japan, Germany, Maryland, Virginia, and Texas. The sole goal of her career is to improve the scientific literacy of students, teachers, and community members through improving the delivery of science instruction to all learners. She holds three science degrees from Texas Tech, Texas State, and UT at Austin. She taught science for seven years prior to coordinating science for the State of Texas at TEA, Round Rock ISD, and Austin ISD. Her love of science education is exemplified in having served as founder and president of the Texas Council of Elementary Science (1984); president of the Council for Elementary Science International (1994); Board of Directors of the National Science Teachers Association (1994); president of Texas Science Education Leadership Association (2000); director of the Austin Area Science Fair and Festival (1996-2003). Dr. ten Brink authored an elementary science textbook through eight editions. She writes a column for Science Teachers Association of Texas entitled, On the Brink of Success.

Cesar "Charlie" Gutierrez:

Secondary science specialist (MS) and AISD high school teacher of the year 2005, has taught biology, chemistry, biotechnology, anatomy & physiology, and health science technology at an urban high school for 10 years. Prior to that, he taught at the Alternative Learning Center from 1988-96. He has mentored new teachers and student teachers, and has been a presenter at AISD’s annual New Teacher Academy. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas, and was a student at the Baylor College of Medicine until, he says, “teaching found me.”

Martha Lee:

Martha Lee is a Secondary Science Specialist (HS) with the Science Department of Austin Independent School District. She holds a Bachelors of Science degree with a specialization in Biology from Stephen F. Austin State University and Masters of Education in Educational Administration from the University of North Texas. She has been in education for 15 years, as a teacher in both Middle School and High School science as well as District Curriculum writer. Prior to beginning her employment with Austin ISD, Martha taught in an alternative certification program for individuals wishing to become Math and Science teachers. Martha's experiences include mentoring new teachers, serving as Department Chair and serving as science fair coordinator. She has also has planned and presented professional development for the educational community on the topics of science content as well as using technology in the classroom at several national and state conferences such as NSTA, CAST and the National Middle School Conference. Martha says her passion for education and teaching is in her DNA! Her father is a retired Biology Professor and her mother is a retired math teacher and school administrator. She states "I can not remember a time when I did not want to be a teacher!"

Carl Seagren:

Carl Seagren joined the Science Curriculum department May 2007 having taught in AISD for five and one half years prior and eight years at various other districts. A graduate of Southwest Texas State University with a BS in Mathematics and minors in physics and chemistry, Carl has had the opportunity to teach a variety of middle school and high school subjects. Including 6th grade mathematics through AP Calculus to IPC, Chemistry, Physics (regular, Pre-AP & AP), web development and computer literacy. But his all time favorite subject to teach has to be Principles of Technology, a conceptual based physics course. As a Secondary Specialist, Carl supports the high school science program and its many teachers. He also serves as the district's science safety officer, where he ensures that all adults working with AISD students in the science lab have had the proper HAZCOM and safety training; along with inspecting science labs and storage/prep rooms for state and federal safety regulations. In his free time Carl enjoys cooking, woodworking and reading a good book. And when money and time permit his wife and he make their way to the "Happiest Place on Earth," Walt Disney World, where he continues being a kid.