CHEVERLY STEM EDUCATION CENTER

Nutrition

Imke is a graduate student of community nutrition education at the Maryland University of Integrative Health in Laurel, MD. She has a master degree in Arabic literature and has translated Arabic literature into her native language, German, for a decade before finally fulfilling her dream – to turn her passion for nutrition and food into a career. She loves to cook delicious meals from fresh ingredients and makes lacto-fermented vegetables, yogurt and kefir on a regular basis. She lives in Hyattsville, MD, with her husband, four children and a much beloved dog.

Study Hall

Ena Allen has had a passion for teaching since her youth. She brings a wealth of educational knowledge from ages three to eighteen. Her background includes:  homeschooling her  three boys; starting her own Home Daycare and volunteering and substituting for P.G. County Public Schools.  She's also taught at private schools New Hope Academy and Christian Family Montessori School. Ena enjoys reading, gardening and cooking.

Art, Senior Art

Raymond Berry is a native Washingtonian and graduate of both Duke Ellington (2010) and Virginia Commonwealth University (2016).  He works mostly in traditional media: graphite, charcoal, acrylic and oil paint, as well as the occasional dip in digital media.  Mr. Berry is currently dividing his time between his art work and working at Blick Art Materials, WCD.  He is thrilled to join the Cheverly STEM Education Program this year.

Chemistry (Intro and HS); Environmental Science; Physical Science; National Parks, Geology, Geography & U.S.

Ann is a homeschooling mom of 5 years. She has 3 children (ages 18,16, and 13). For most of her career she has been a science curriculum specialist. Ann started by teaching chemistry and moved to curriculum evaluation at American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for 8 years. She also spent 3 years developing and teaching elementary science curricula. Ann has a Master’s in education and I nearly completed a PhD in science education - made ABD - then her third child (son James) was born. She is looking forward to building the STEM center over the next several years.  

Intro to Physics

Jaemin is a 4th year undergraduate student at the University of Maryland. He is currently studying Atmospheric and Oceanic Science as well as Physics. Jaemin has lived in many different places including Korea, Canada, and Utah! As a young child he was intrigued by many famous scientists especially Albert Einstein and his Theory of Relativity. Jaemin enjoys the strange, curious, and mind-tickling topics often avoided in math and science. Apart from school, he likes to travel and has close to 500,000 frequent flier miles!

Cardio, Ecology & Healthy Bodies

Laura Frese was born in South Korea and raised on Long Island, New York.  She moved to the DC area in 2002 and earned degree in Chemistry at The Catholic University of America before landing in Cheverly in 2014.  A teacher at heart, Laura has taught in a wide variety of subject areas - from dance, to chemistry, to dog training!  Currently, in addition to Cheverly STEM, she is teaching youth classes with Greenleaf Fitness and caring for her own kids (ages 7 and 4)

Senior Health

Susan Harnett is a long time professor at Towson State University and the Community College of Baltimore.  

Creative Writing, Language Arts, Foreign Language

Halima Jenkins is a local educator and freelancer. Her work has appeared in publications such as Washington Independent Review of Books, Her Mind, The Change Agent, and the late, great Maryland Life.  Halima earned a B.A. in French (University of Maryland), an M.A. in Writing (The Johns Hopkins University), and a Diplôme supérieur d'études françaises (Université de Nice, France). Halima has a passion for travel, hot tea, a good laugh, and spending time with her husband and three children.

Zoology

Tonya is an outdoor enthusiast who loves helping youth of all ages experience the great outdoors. She has been a Naturalist for 17 years with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. A couple of her greatest professional achievements are receiving the Maryland Governor’s Service Award for managing the best Volunteer youth group in the State of Maryland and being the project manager, designer and builder of the award winning American Indian Village at Patuxent River Park.  A few of her favorites are: subject-biology, animal-amphibians, insect-praying mantis, activity-kayaking and food-pancakes. 

Teacher: Computer Science, Intro to Coding, Computer Applications

Kahlee is a Maryland native that consults at USDA as an IT Project Manager. Over the years, she has worked with children through special events like Hour of Code, Girls Who Code or simply by volunteering. Most recently, she’s been the main instructor of an after school comprehensive STEM program called DNAwesome. She’s excited to share the different aspects of technology.

Mock Trial

Shakisha Morgan is a lawyer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and advocate working with clients in Maryland and the District of Columbia. As the Managing Attorney of S. A. Morgan & Associates, LLC, Shakisha litigates civil cases and contract law, and provides legal and business consultations to individuals, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and non-profit companies. Shakisha is passionate about empowering the marginalized and developing dynamic leaders, and utilizes the law to make people’s lives better.

Woodworking

Abel has been constructing and deconstructing ever since he can remember; and loves working with his hands to create something tangible. He has built small things from bird houses to a large shed, to gutting and refinishing rooms in his home. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from The Ohio State University and has spent the better part of his professional career working in policy and advocacy work at the federal level for various interests. Currently, he is the director of outreach and partnerships for Corazón Latino, an environmental organization based in Washington, DC. He lives in Cheverly, with his wife Aimee and two sons and is looking forward to getting to know the students of Cheverly STEM

Marketing, Public Speaking & Communications

From the tender age of 7, Ope enjoyed every part of the creative industries and knew creativity would be her path. Upon graduating from LIM College, with a bachelors degree in Marketing with a concentration in Public Relations -
Ope  launched Eeje Enterprises which houses all her creative endeavors such as a blog, media company and boutique! Fabulously talented, her life has been a colorful journey filled with joy, pain, wins and loses.

Anatomy, Biology, Yearbook, Study Skills

Kumari comes from a large, homeschooling family and has been teaching and helping others learn for as long as she can remember. She received her Bachelor's degree from University of Maryland in Kinesiological Sciences, and Doctorate from George Washington University in Physical Therapy. She has been been employed at Johns Hopkins Hospital in that capacity for the last 5 years. Anatomy, Physiology and the biological sciences have been the cornerstone of her education and are often considered the cornerstone classes for health sciences and the study of medicine on an undergraduate and graduate level. She is excited to become part of  the STEM Center!

Engineering (focus is Civil Engineering on Wednesday & Mechanical on Thursday)

Jeanne is a homeschooling mom of seven. She currently homeschools her youngest son (17) and nephew (18). She is a yogi and vegetarian by nature and an engineer by training (UMCP). Jeanne has been working in the field of civil engineering for 30+ years. During which she managed multi-million dollar budgets and supervised thousands of employees - training many of them. Additionally, she and her husband build home additions, decks and custom furnture, as well as their own geodesic home in Cheverly. 

Mock Trial

Rashida is a proud native of Brooklyn, NY.  Rashida is a lawyer and currently serves as an administrative appeals attorney with the United States Federal Government.  Rashida was motivated to become an attorney after several years of working as a child and family therapist in the Washington, DC and Northern, VA areas.  Rashida’s professional and personal passions involve advancing the rights of marginalized populations. She is a passionate advocate and community servant and strives to use the law to improve the lives of others, both inside and outside of a court room.

Sports and Fitness, Chess, US, Political Science

Brandon is currently pursuing his Master's degree in Kinesiology specializing in Physical Culture Studies at the University of Maryland-College Park after receiving his Bachelor's degrees in Sports Communication and Sociology from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois in May of 2017. Born and raised in the Midwest, Brandon developed an early love for sport and fitness and was heavily involved in athletics, particularly baseball, basketball, and football. Brandon hopes to use his education to promote physical activity and sport within the community and make it accessible to all.