Drew Bueno-Potts
Drew Bueno-Potts is originally from New Orleans and encourages students in his classroom to ask questions, think critically about their environment and community and gain a greater understanding of the world around them using inquiry, discussion, and field research. He has taught in multiple schools in Southern California including Azusa, Redondo Beach, Cerritos (middle school), Ontario, Corona-Norco, and Huntington Beach and currently serves as the co-chair of the Science Department at Ocean View High School. Currently, Drew is exploring equity and equality in his classrooms utilizing his work in the Hollyhock program. He holds a Master of Arts, Education from Claremont Graduate University, a MBA, Global Business from the University of Redlands, and a Bachelor of Science, Environmental Science from the University of California, Riverside. He holds credentials in Biology, GeoScience, Health Science, and Business and once taught Algebra in middle school. In addition, Drew utilizes his experiences conducting marine biology research in the Turks & Caicos Islands, as well as his Fulbright Fellowship experiences in Vietnam and India, to engage and connect with his students. He is the primary biology teacher of English Language Learners and enjoys the challenges and rewards of teaching science to English Language Learners. Many of his EL students join his AP Environmental Science class in their junior or senior year as a result of connections and engagement. Several students from APES have gone on to promote environmental awareness in their communities and engage those communities in environmental activism, as well as careers in science. Drew enjoys photography, the beach, cycling, hiking, reading, and traveling. He is an avid fan of the LA Galaxy soccer team.
Hannah Schuchhardt
Hannah Schuchhardt has been a proud Chicago Public School teacher for the past 8 years. She currently teaches at George Westinghouse College Prep, a magnet, public high school on Chicago’s west side where she teaches Precalculus, Statistics, and Calculus. Hannah is also a member of the school’s Instructional Support Team which has a focus of developing teacher collaboration and discussion of instruction. Hannah attended Valparaiso University where she earned her B.S. in Mathematics. After graduation, she moved to Chicago to be a part of the Chicago Teaching Fellows Program where she found a passion for teaching math. Hannah is passionate about public education and believes that all students should learn in an academically challenging environment that focuses on problem solving over procedures.
JahB Prescott
JahB Prescott is a 5th year teacher and spent his last year as a 1st year middle school teacher at Thurgood Marshall Middle School in San Diego, California. He spent his first four years of teaching at Freedom High School in Virginia. His teaching resume incudes: English 7 Inclusion and Gifted, English 8 Inclusion and Gifted, Pre AP English 10, English 10 Inclusion, English 11 Inclusion, and English 12 Inclusion. He has taken on several leadership roles including PLC chairs at the high school level and assisting in curriculum design for students. He holds a Masters Degree in Education with a concentration in Secondary Education English from Old Dominion University. The work at Hollyhock has inspired him to be reflective of his practices in the classroom, coach teachers who are looking for a change in their classroom, and remain steadfast in the approach that "Teaching is the best profession on the planet!" He is thrilled to have a third year at Hollyhock and to work with incoming cohorts.
James Likis
James Likis is in his sixth year teaching 9th and 10th grade mathematics at the Jeremiah E. Burke High School in Dorchester, MA. Through the Hollyhock Fellowship, James has embraced the analysis of classroom video, especially around instructional activities and routines to facilitate mathematical discourse, as a means of improving his practice. James and two other teacher leaders recently secured funding for DIY Coaching, a model of self-led instructional coaching through classroom video. Math teachers from Boston district and charter schools are participating in this program.
In addition to teaching at the Burke, James coordinates math interventions throughout the 9th and 10th grade. In September 2014, with improved ELA results already secured, the Burke became the first high school in Massachusetts to successfully exit turnaround status after seeing substantial gains in student growth and proficiency rates in math. James also co-facilitates a partnership with Boston Collegiate Charter School that is now in its fifth year. The partnership focuses on developing both instruction and systematic academic interventions, with analysis of classroom video integral to that work.
Born and raised in Cambridge, MA, James completed the Boston Teacher Residency after graduating from Brandeis University. When he isn’t focused on teaching and learning, James is most likely spending time with his wife, Ivyrose, and their dog, Prince, doing yoga, or cooking something delicious.
Jeff Kilner
Jeff Kilner is entering his 9th year as an educator. For 2 of those years, Jeff lived abroad in Sweden and had the opportunity to serve students as a middle school science teacher and as a mentor. Another two years were spent serving the State University of New York at Buffalo’s athletics department as a graduate assistant swim coach and as an adjunct professor in the health/PE department. While at UB, Jeff earned his master’s degree in education with a focus on integrating technology into science curriculum in equitable and authentic ways. Jeff’s remaining 5 years of experience have been spent as a science teacher at Sussex Central High School located in southern Delaware. Jeff currently teaches biology to our rapidly rising ELL population, as well as conceptual physics to high school juniors and seniors. In addition to focusing on high quality instruction within his own classroom, Jeff has been an integral part of SCHS’ Professional Learning Team. The goal of this group is to plan and implement authentic, relevant blended professional learning experiences through modeling best instructional practice. Jeff was also recently recognized by the Delaware Governor’s STEM Council as the Delaware STEM Educator of the year for heading a team of teachers who founded the Indian River School District’s first makerspace. STEAMLab is a physical and digital space where students collaborate across grade level and academic track to pursue projects about which they are passionate within the domains of science, technology, engineering, arts and math. Jeff also coaches the Golden Knight’s swim teams. When not teaching or coaching, Jeff enjoys spending time with his wife, their dog Foxy, watersports, concerts, cooking and pro-wrestling.
Lauren Midgette
Lauren is a dual certified (English and ESL) teacher at Bulkeley High School in Hartford, Connecticut. She has a Bachelors in English, Bachelors in Education, and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction all from Uconn’s Neag School of Education. During her Master’s year, she worked at Hampstead School in London, UK, working with refugee students and struggling readers in intervention courses. She now teaches English, Methods of Teaching, Public Speaking, EL Reading Literature 1, and a Capstone course in Bulkeley’s Teacher Prep Academy. Her amazing students are her greatest motivation, and she is excited to share what she will learn as a Hollyhock Leading Fellow with her colleagues.
Pamela Harter
Pamela Harter is a product of the California Public School system, where she now teaches. Originally from Sacramento, CA, and graduating from Sacramento State University, Pamela teaches multiple Social Science classes at San Jose High School in San Jose, CA , including IB History of the Americas, Economics and Government. In addition to teaching in the classroom, Pamela has worked in multiple teacher leadership roles within the department, the school and the district. She also serves on the board of the California Council for the Social Sciences for Region Five. Pamela was part of the initial Hollyhock cohort, and has worked with her team to continue the work at San Jose High to improve education for all students.
Rachel Zulick
Rachel Zulick has spent the past 5 years working with students to become scientifically literate citizens. She earned her Bachelor's degree from Dowling College on Long Island, NY, and then completed a Master's degree in Biology at the University of New Mexico. She spent 3 years teaching freshmen Biology at a comprehensive high school in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she helped spearhead programs to support literacy across contents. She now teaches freshmen in Earth/Environmental Science in Durham, North Carolina. Her teaching practice focuses on developing equitable learning opportunities by engaging students in scientific discovery. She is excited to continue growing with the Hollyhock team.
