Jahnine Blosser, Scott High School
Email: j.blosser@tps.org
I received my B.S. in Biology from Cleveland State University. I taught junior high for eleven years before moving to high school five years ago. My goal in the high school is to get students to realize their relationship with nature as a whole. This is somewhat hard for kids who do not generally have any experience with nature as I teach in an urban school. In 2006, I finished my Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from BGSU and I am presently working towards a Masters in Biology with an emphasis on Ecology. I have been married for 16 years to a chemist, so our two daughters get more science than they ever wanted. I love to hike, canoe, and generally be outside. I try to be a gardener, but I really need help with that one. This is my second year in the GK-12 program and I have had an incredible experience so far. I think the thing that has helped my classroom the most is the exposure to some one who looks and acts like a normal person, but is a scientist. My high school students always think that all scientists are “geeky”, but they can really relate to my graduate fellow (Todd Crail), although they still think he is a little bit “geeky”. I also love having a graduate fellow who I can exchange ideas with for the classroom as well as someone who is current on all that might be going on in Environmental Science at this moment.
Michelle Bogue, Sylvania Northview
Email: sy.michelle.bogue@nwoca.org
I received a B.A. in Biology from The University of Toledo. I worked several years in the horticulture/parks industry. Then I went on to Ohio State University for course work for my Career-Tech teaching licensure. Originally I taught for Toledo Public Schools for three years as their Greenhouse Management teacher at the Agriculture Education Center. I then move to Sylvania Schools where I have been teaching environmental and agriculture classes. For eight years I have been a part of the Student Watershed Watch and learn more every year. My knowledge of water quality issues is basic; I would like to increase my knowledge at a level that would easily translate to a high school classroom. Personally, I have a small flock of chickens (for eggs) and enjoy gardening, especially fruit and vegetable.
Tim Bollin, TECHS
Email: tim.bollin@tps.org
I have been teaching in TPS for 20+ years, at DeVilbiss H.S, Woodward H.S., and now at Toledo Early College. I have been involved in the Student Watershed Watch program almost every year since it began. I received both my Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Toledo and continue to seek opportunities to involve myself and ultimately my students in challenging, hands-on science experiences, especially those that promote self reliance, awareness, and empowerment. In my free time I enjoy fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, paddling, and exploring with my family in the cathedrals of the great outdoors.
Dave Bourland, Bowsher High School
Email: david.bourland@tps.org
I received a Bachelor of Science in Geology with a specialization in Paleontology from Bowling Green State University. I worked for a short time in industry but returned to the University of Toledo to obtain my Ohio Teaching License. After being hired by Toledo Public Schools I began my teaching career at Libbey then Bowsher High Schools. For the last number of years my area of focus has been both Environmental and Earth Science. For the past three years Bowsher Science Interns along with the help of Hull and Associates have participated in the Student Watershed Watch. My knowledge of water quality issues is somewhat limited. I am looking forward to increasing my knowledge in this field and working with future students to study and improve the environment.
Paulette Cole, TECHS
Email: paulette.cole@tps.org
I earned my Bachelor’s in Biology at Long Island University in Brookville, New York. I worked for 10 years as a Medical Technologist with a specialty in Hematology/Oncology.
In 1997 I moved to Toledo and started working as a substitute teacher for Toledo Public Schools. Somewhere along the way, I discovered that I enjoyed being in the classroom and decided to become a “real” teacher.
As an undergraduate student I was not exposed to environmental science to the extent that I have been during the past year, and I am constantly amazed by the vast amount of information that our experts have to convey.
This coming school year (2009-2010) will be my second year participating in the GK-12 program. I learned a lot about the environment and even about the geology of our area. I had amazing experiences last year and I am looking forward to more wonderful experiences as I continue in this program. I have been in the woods communing with bugs and on the lake where we gathered soil that was approximately 10,000 years old!
Some of my students had the wonderful opportunity to conduct and present their research on how the salinity of water affects crayfish. The students who participated were excited to work with my fellow Betsy Bodamer and wanted to know when they would be able to “do this again.” It is my hope that by exposing my students to science outside of the classroom they may be encouraged to explore and consider science as a career.
Personally, I have been married for 15 years and I am the proud mom of an 11 year old daughter who gets frustrated when I ask “another science question.” 
Kathleen Singler, Ottawa Hills High School
Email: ohhs_kss@nwoca.org
I had the pleasure of growing up in Sandusky near the bay. I spent my youth fishing, boating, swimming at Cedar Point, and sailing to the islands. One of my first jobs was working at Battery Park Marina at the time when Lake Erie was declared “dead”. I remember algal blooms that looked like someone had thrown green, thick paint into the bay. During college, I majored in biology and graduated with a B.S. from BGSU. During the summer, I taught sailing in Sandusky Bay and sailed as part of crew on the sailboat, “Reverie”.
My first teaching assignment was at Notre Dame Academy. I left there to raise a family of three before being hired by Ottawa Hills High School. For the past 21 years I have taught biology as well as zoology, botany, and physical science. I earned my M.S. in Biology and Education from UT in 1988 and became a National Board Certified Teacher of Science in 2004. I am an avid traveler, photographer, gardener and student of nature.
During my tenure at Ottawa Hills, I have had the opportunity to create, with my students, a courtyard learning space, complete with pond, outside of my classroom. I have also been able to take groups of students to study in Costa Rica during an alternative learning week, held every other year, at our school.
In 2008, an opportunity arose to work with the NSF Gk-12 program. We had been early participants in the Student Watershed Watch, and want to get involved again. I also wanted to expose my students to more inquiry-based projects and saw the placement of a doctoral fellow in my classroom as a perfect opportunity to do so.
The program has allowed me to get updated on water quality assessment and the biology and geology of the land/lake interface of Lake Erie. I have heard lectures from many experts on the subject and have taken part in field studies that have equipped me with information and experiences to share with my students. In addition, I have had the pleasure of working with Doctoral Fellow, Ms. Kristen DeVanna, in teaching my students. Ms. DeVanna brings her research expertise in her role as mentor for my students interested in scientific research. My students have gotten involved in the Watershed Watch and district and state science days and have been quite successful in their research. Several have earned superior ratings and college scholarships. I plan on continuing this relationship with the GK-12 program throughout the upcoming school year and hopefully my students will be as involved and successful at scientific research as they were this past year.
Dennis Slotnick, Clay High School
Email: orhs_dds@nwoca.org
I teach Honors Biology and Environmental Science at Clay High School, in Oregon Ohio and have been with the Oregon City Schools for 24 years. I have a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Michigan in Natural Resources (1975) and a Master's of Arts in Teaching from Wayne State (1980). I have been a Director of Environmental Education and Interpretative Naturalist with the U.S. Park Service.
I have been instrumental in establishing a Wind Research Facility at Clay, received the Teacher of the Year Award from Buckeye Cable, am an A+ for Energy Grant winner, a Jennings Scholar, Governors Award for excellence, and have participated in two honors workshops for teachers: Assist and Howard Hughes Medical research.
My school-related activities include managing the Shallow wetland and prairie wild site at Clay High School, I coach the Chess club, have organized the Science Olympiads, Science Fairs, and Student Watershed Watch for 14 years.
Outside the classroom, I serve on the Genoa Tree Commission and am active politically with the Natural Law Party of Ohio. My leisure interests include organic gardening, meditation, classical music, camping, canoeing, and backpacking. 
Wendy Wilson, Start High School
Email: wendy.wilson@tps.org
I have a B.S.in education from Bowling Green State University and a master's degree in social work from Case Western Reserve University. I have taught science for 15 years, 9 of those at Start High School.
Two years ago during the construction of the new Start High School, I expressed a desire to have a pond that I could use to teach biology. Since then, my efforts to actualize that desire have propelled me on an interesting journey through storm water science and community orgainizing and have culminated in my changed perspective on science education. I would love for my students to experience science thematically, ideally as part of an interdisciplinary approach involving social studies. The school's proximity to an urban watershed and the Great Lakes, plus on-site storm water management structures make 'water quality' a relevant connection to science content standards. I hope my students will increasingly be involved in applying science concepts to environmental aspects of their schoolyard/neighborhood. For more information on the environmental project at Start, google 'Start High School Urban Watershed Habitat'.
When not teaching (and thinking about teaching!), I enjoy kayaking, riding my bike,roller blading, and cross country skiing. I have an extensive perennial garden. And I like to play the piano. I also like to visit urban areas where my children reside and shop.
I have truly enjoyed participating in the GK-12 program. Having Jhonatan in my classroom has enriched my foundation in biology and enabled an extension of lesson content which has better engaged students. As a result, my confidence as a teacher has increased. I am looking forward to continuing...what a great way to make an impact in urban education!