Maker Educator Certificate: Instructors

Patricia Amend-EhnPatricia Amend-Ehn

Patricia Amend-Ehn earned her teaching credential from Sonoma State University in 1999 and she is currently teaching part-time as a first grade teacher at Kenwood Elementary School. Patricia spends the other part of her week creating interactive activities for her STEAM classes at Kenwood Elementary School. She has spent the past year engaging in the creation of engineering activities for all of her students and has collaborated with the entire staff to implement whole school engineering challenges. She completed the Maker Certificate Program at Sonoma State University in the spring of 2015.

 

Melissa BeckerMelissa Becker

Melissa Becker, Principal at Meadow Elementary School, received the Petaluma Community Award for Excellence in Education in May 2014 for her charismatic leadership. She created the first K-5 makerspace in the North bay at Meadow and strives to provide a progressive learning environment for all children.

 

 

Susan DonnerSusan Donner

Susan Donner is a middle school math and science teacher with 20 years of experience. As a life-long maker, she is passionate about infusing the math and science curriculum with challenges and projects that encourage students to think creatively. She was a member of the inaugural SSU Maker Educator Certificate Program cohort, at which time she and her colleague Gary Jordan developed and implemented the STEAMaker Enrichment course at Piner-Olivet Charter School. The class is currently in its third year. Susan enjoys working with other people who are interested in Making and the Maker mindset. One of her favorite quotes is by Emily Dickinson, "Dwell in possibility."

 

Gary JordanGary Jordan

Gary Jordan is in his twenty-fourth year teaching math, science, and technology to students in grades 6 through 8 in the Piner-Olivet School District in Santa Rosa. A lifelong Maker at heart, Gary joined colleague Susan Donner in becoming a certified Maker Educator in 2014. Together they continue to develop and co-teach the Maker Enrichment course at their school, while working to incorporate Making and Project Based Learning into core curriculum.