Our Teachers

We are always on the lookout for great teachers to provide unique and interesting classes for our students.  We are looking for people who are engineers, artists, makers, science geeks, professionals, or amateurs.  You may already have an idea for your class or would like to make our unused curriculum your own.

Students have expressed interest in new classes for food science, lizards, and nature. We would also like to add intermediate CAD, collaborative music, sports math (strategy/stats) and to bring back improv and theater.

If you are considering teaching for us, please visit our online teacher portal.  You’ll be put in touch with one of our Teacher Coordinators who will be happy to answer all of your questions!

Above all else, teachers must be excited about teaching their subject matter to gifted children.  Our teachers have advanced degrees in teaching or have degrees/experience in their subject area.  Some of our teachers are gifted themselves; all are passionate about teaching gifted children.  All teachers are required to have background checks in place prior to teaching.


Biographies

A   |   B   |   C   |   D   |   E   |   F   |   G   |   H   |   I   |   J   |   K   |   L   |   M   |   N   |   O   |   P   |   Q   |   R   |   S   |   T   |   U   |   V   |   W   |   X   |   Y   |   Z

Karen Anderson loves making things!  Especially yarny things.  She has been a member of the Weavers Guild of Greater Cincinnati since 2004 where she knits, embroiders, dyes, spins, weaves, crochets, braids, and lucets.  She also teaches at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center.  She enjoys sharing her knowledge with anyone who wants to listen!

  Classes Taught:

Lisa Bacu is the owner of Scientific Mayhem, LLC and has been working with students and teaching science classes for over six years.  Born and raised in Ohio, she earned her Bachelor’s of Science in biology from Muskingum University and her Master’s of Science in environmental science from The Ohio State University.  Lisa has worked as an analytical chemist at Battélle Memorial Institute and as an environmental scientist with Pfizer, Inc.  Website       LinkedIn

  Classes Taught:

Gina Baldwin has a Bachelor’s of Science in mechanical engineering and worked for 15 years at Procter & Gamble before deciding to stay home with her three boys.  Her gifted boys keep her on her toes and reaching for new ideas.  She has had a love for math since seeing pre-algebra in junior high.  She says, “Math can be a lot of fun, and I want to see all kids learn to enjoy it, even if it is not their area of strength.”  LinkedIn

  Classes Taught:

Janet Bockey was originally drawn into robotics by her oldest son and has now been teaching LEGO MINDSTORMS classes for 10 years.  She is a University of Cincinnati graduate who joined The Super Saturday Program eight years ago.  She also teaches at after-school programs, Scouts groups, summer camps, parties, and coached a FIRST LEGO League team.  She lives in a house full of LEGOs in Liberty Township with her husband and sons.  Her family “pet” is a NXT robotic alligator named Fred who sometimes visits her classes!

  Classes Taught:

Dr. Kenneth Brown is a retired research chemist from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health with 50 years of professional work using science, technology, engineering, and math industries.  He is interested in mentoring young scientists toward their careers in science through The Super Saturday Program.  On his website, NaturalBornScientists.com, he provides step-by-step instructions for a number of science projects children can do at home.  Website   LinkedIn

  Classes Taught:

Dr. Mia Burnett has a bachelor’s degree in forensic chemistry from Ohio University, a master’s degree in forensic toxicology from the University of Florida, and a master’s degree in chemistry and PhD in environmental sciences from Wright State University.  The article she co-authored, “Probing the Interaction of Aspergillomarasmine A with Metallo-β-lactamases NDM-1, VIM-2, and IMP-7”, can be read on the American Chemical Society website.  Dr. Burnett worked at the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office for 12 years and is currently working as an independent contractor and a government researcher.  She has been teaching for over 21 years and enjoys presenting community outreach programs.  LinkedIn

  Classes Taught:

Simone Burnett recently graduated from The Ohio State University as a dance and arts management/business major.  Simone danced with the Spectrum Dance Theater dance company as a company artist.  She specializes in contemporary dance, ballet, modern dance, and stretch and strengthening techniques.  Her focus is to spread knowledge about movement practice and how it can be applied to health, education, and overall creativity!  Website   LinkedIn

  Classes Taught:

Todd Calaway is a magistrate at Montgomery County Juvenile Court.  He has been a lifelong fan of puzzles, games, and trivia.  His son is a regular student at Super Saturdays and inspired him to start teaching his passion.  LinkedIn

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Ryan L. Cheng graduated with an associate degree in electro-mechanical engineering technology (ABET accredited) from Sinclair College.  He won the National Association of Rocketry Scholarship and is an undergrad at Miami University double majoring in robotics, electrical and computer science engineering.  He has Solidworks CSWA, National Association of Rocketry Level 2 High Power Certification and enjoys mentoring student teams for FIRST, VEX, TARC, and Ohio 4-H in rocketry and science projects.  Ryan says, “I believe getting students excited about STEM at an early age is the key to giving them the skills to be critical thinkers.”

  Classes Taught:

Kevin Coleman has been a chess coach in the Cincinnati area for the past seventeen years and is a former officer of the Cincinnati Chess Club.  He leads our fearless “Super Saturday Knights” each spring at the Queen City Classic Chess Tournament where we would love for you to join us.  LinkedIn

  Classes Taught:

William (Lee) Davis is an artist and writer.  He has illustrated children’s books, created comics for fantasy magazines, and written stories featured in small press anthologies.  Most recently, Lee has been creating comics for the Texas rock band The Toadies through their agency.  He creates and self-publishes his own comics in his free time.  He is looking forward to getting back to writing fiction.

  Classes Taught:

Anne Flick, M.Ed., is an adjunct professor at Xavier University, teaching graduate courses to practicing teachers earning the gifted endorsement.  She also works as a gifted instructional specialist, teaching enrichment and accelerated courses to middle schoolers.  She has presented at numerous national, state, and regional education conferences and regularly presents to parent organizations.  She has contributed to the Review, the quarterly journal of the Ohio Association for Gifted Children.  Working at the state and local level, her volunteer efforts have involved advocacy on behalf of gifted children, offering testimony to legislators and state agency administrators as well as consultation to educators at all levels.  Her Holocaust education training is extensive, including the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Belfer conference for four years, along with scores of courses and trainings with other leading national Holocaust education organizations.  Additionally, she was honored to be chosen as a scholar for the selective National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Seminar, Grappling with Genocide.  She is a lifelong learner herself, as well as mom to her two adult gifted daughters.

  Classes Taught:

Aidan Gallagher is a computer science undergrad at Miami University of Ohio and a member of the varsity Overwatch team.  He has served as webmaster resource for The Super Saturday Program and participated in the HackHarvard 2017.  Aidan is proficient in Java, Python, front-end web development, and other programming languages.  LinkedIn

  Classes Taught:

Jessica Hamilton has taught K-5 gifted education in Kentucky public schools and is raising two gifted children of her own.  She holds a master’s degree in gifted education from Northern Kentucky University and a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Cincinnati.  She hopes to be a resource both as a parent and an educator for the families of The Super Saturday Program.

  Classes Taught:

Steven T. Harm, P.E., S.E. is a registered professional engineer in eleven states with over 20 years of experience in structural engineering of buildings.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Ohio University.  Steven is an owner and managing partner at Advantage Structural Engineers.  He is the Structural Engineer of Record for numerous buildings in the Cincinnati Area including the Indian Hill/Madeira Firehouse, the Bellevue Waters Edge Condominiums and the Rhinegiest Brewery renovation.  Website   LinkedIn

  Classes Taught:

John Hennessy is a student at Lakota West High School in the class of 2026.  He has been a student at The Super Saturday Program since 2014 and has been a Teen Leader since 2022, working with Lisa Bacu, Kelly Reilman, and Melanie Simkins.  He works for Scientific Mayhem and is involved in the Lakota West Band Program.

  Classes Taught:

Monica Hennessy has a Bachelor’s of Science and Master’s of Science in Education in mathematics.  She has a gifted son of her own that has kept her challenged.  She is currently a math professor for University of Cincinnati at their Blue Ash campus.  LinkedIn

  Classes Taught:

Mark Hogan has had a passion for magic ever since he was a young boy.  Over the years, he has performed magic in many different venues, including schools, at corporate events, at parties and for many non-profit events.  He loves to teach magic to both the young and the young at heart.  He is the monitor/instructor for magic clubs for Kilgour Elementary in Cincinnati and St. Martha’s School in Sarasota, FL.  And he has taught Magic for the Young at Heart for senior citizens in both Cincinnati and Sarasota, FL.  He has also written a series of 4 children’s picture books, The Magic Mylo series, about a young boy who becomes a very talented magician.  The first two are currently available on Amazon: How the Amazing Mylo Rescued his Grandpa and Mylo and his Magic Club Befriend a Bully.

  Classes Taught:

Evan Mark Holzman is visual artist / teacher / actor / producer with more credits than can be listed here.  His greatest joys have been in the joy of creating new works with students.  The video classes he offers are never the same – built for the needs of the group of students.  The process includes mutually creating a project then writing, planning, performing, lighting, shooting & editing the project.  It is the process of creation that is primary!  Holzman began making films at 13, attended NYU and a few other schools in a prior century.  Filmmaking was always his great love, although he took time out for a while to raise a family in the corporate world.  He has been back to his creative roots and enjoying teaching again for a number of years.  He has enjoyed challenging The Super Saturday Program students in creative projects.

  Classes Taught:

Amy Hruschak
Rory Hruschak is a student at Walnut Hills High School.  He began folding paper after reading the Origami Yoda series in elementary school.  He quickly discovered he had a talent for origami, and he enjoyed taking the Super Saturday origami class taught by his mentor.  He has attended many CenterFold Ohio Origami Conventions to learn more models and techniques.  Rory also came in second place in a national contest involving the movie Kubo and the Two Strings by creating an original origami model.

  Classes Taught:

6/17/2009

Barbara James, M.Ed., NBCT has worked as a science specialist and teacher in both the public and private sector for over 30 years.  Her teaching accomplishments have earned her both state and national awards including Time Warner Cable National Teacher, Dr. Lawrence C. Hawkins Educator of the Year Award 2011, Who’s Who Among Teachers, just to name a few.  Along with being featured in news articles for her work with science and children, Barbara has presented seminars on college campuses, at national conferences and to a wide variety of audiences on early childhood literacy, outdoor education and topics in science.  A gifted musician, she is also a national award winning song writer.  Teaching with Super Saturday since 1999, she says, “I look forward to Super Saturday mornings with joy because I love teaching and the children come excited about learning.”  LinkedIn

  Classes Taught:

Nitin Kulkarni is an IT professional with over 20 years of experience, having worked across the globe for Fortune 500 companies and is very passionate about technology.  He has experience teaching kids as young as 3rd grade and has taught technologies such as HTML, CSS, Javascript, and Python.  He has helped kids successfully take the Python Certification exam.  LinkedIn

  Classes Taught:

Shirley Lee is the proud mother of our former student and current teacher Ryan Cheng. She assists teaching classes, coaching the rocketry team, and in many other ways. She still refuses to help write a biography, so accomplishments, accolades, and anecdotes are welcomed at marketing@supersaturday.org.

Korin Mattei is a 3rd generation artist and general creative.  Raised by both a professional artist and an inventor, her driving passion is to support outside-the-box thinking and help foster creativity.  She has been a part of The Super Saturday Program for a number of years as a parent, board member, Operations Manager, and teacher of multiple classes.  Her son is a stop motion animator whose videos can be found on YouTube under the name @TechnicalAntonym.  They have worked together over the years perfecting his craft.  LinkedIn

  Classes Taught:

 

Priscilla Oehlschlaeger is the author of Make Costumes: For Creative Play (North Light Books 1992.)  She has worked as a Costume Instructor/Designer at the School for Creative & Performing Arts.  Under the direction of Malcolm Frazier, she enjoyed a month in Italy working with the University of Cincinnati’s opera theater company of Lucca, Italy, Opera Lucca.  Her Junk Art and Theatre Magic classes have also been taught at Children’s Museum of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati Public Libraries, University of Cincinnati Summer Camp, and several local schools and promotional events.   For Clifton Recreation Center, she taught classes to inspire all ages to create art by sewing and recycling for individual style to cosplay.  She has also taught after-school classes and summer camps for The Carnegie, Clifton Cultural Arts Center, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati Recreation Center, Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, ROBOT Inside, and Seven Hills Academy.  January 8th through February 28th, she is creating art with homeschool students Mondays and Wednesdays at the Clifton Recreation Center.  On January 27th, her costume work is on display in Godilocks & the Three Dinosaurs presented by the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra as part of their Lollipops Family Series.   Website   LinkedIn

  Classes Taught:

Kelly Reilman works with Lisa Bacu of Scientific Mayhem, LLC. She has a professional background in writing and editing and has been teaching science enrichment to students in grades pre-K through eighth for about seven years.  Her experiences with kids include in-school science labs, after-school science classes, and summer camps, teaching Microsoft Office applications, and as a FIRST LEGO League Head Coach.  “My college-age son was in a gifted program during his school years, so I have plenty of experience working with gifted children.”

  Classes Taught:

Melanie Simkins is a sci-fi, fantasy, cosplaying geek whose daily reality is to masquerade as an Ecological Consultant.  Ms. Simkins wears multiple hats at work: ecologist, botanist, wildlife biologist, cartographer, hydrology modeler, archaeologist, and engineer.  Viewing the world from different perspectives with a little imagination helps inspire a lifelong pursuit of scholarship.  “Let’s be creative and explore science together!”  LinedIn

  Classes Taught:

Mousumi Sinha (pronounced Mo-shu-me) creates a fun-filled learning environment.  She is a musician and author of The Gang Learns All About C Major and The Gang Learns All About G Major.  She is a mom to a boundlessly curious 11-year-old, and volunteer at a local non-profit organization.  She studied mathematics in India before moving to the U.S.A. and studied software engineering at The University of Texas at Dallas before moving to Cincinnati.  LinkedIn

  Classes Taught:

  • Robotic and Coding
  • Scratch

Andrew Speno was an elementary school teacher for 20 years and has taught classes at The Super Saturday Program since 2009.  During the week, he substitutes for five local districts.  He has published two books for middle grade and young adult readers, The Many Lives of Eddie Rickenbacker and The Great American Foot Race.  He has extensively researched the life and work of cryptographers William and Elizebeth Friedman.  He is an avid Go player, an ancient strategy game from China and Japan.  Website   LinkedIn

  Classes Taught:

George Whitaker is a self-identified nerd who enjoys using his teaching degree from Miami University to share his nerdy interests with others.  He enjoys looking into the connection between geek/pop culture and literature and sharing those connections with others.  He is a proud Hufflepuff, father, Eagle Scout, Shakespeare fan, and plant enthusiast. Just don’t ask him a math question.

  Classes Taught:

P. F. Wilson is a freelance writer whose work appears in papers around the country.  He was also a contributing comedy writer for The Gary Burbank Show.  He also contributed to The American Comedy Network and Morning Sidekick radio services.  He currently hosts his own podcast, P.F.’s Tape Recorder and produces The Cincy Shirts Podcast.

  Classes Taught: