Penny Becker has 29 years of experience teaching science. She helped start the Missouri Virtual Instruction Program (MOVIP) and taught courses there in health, nutrition, biology and comprehensive science. Penny is licensed in biology, health, and general science and will be focusing her efforts at GLBTQ Online High School on biology. About GLBTQ Online High School, she writes, “While teaching in the brick and mortar system I witnessed how difficult social situations can be for many students. Instead of being able to concentrate on learning students were forced to deal with other issues. GLBTG Online High School offers students an opportunity to devote their energies to learning and excelling in their classes.” Penny lives near St. Louis, Missouri.

Paul Donovan thinks math is fun and a subject for everyone. He has a B.S. in physics, a Master’s Degree in education, and is currently working on his Master’s Degree in mathematics. A truly multi-talented individual, Paul is also interested in questions of religion and humanism. He has authored a book on atheism and writes for a local gay-oriented publication. He has been working with glbtq youth for 18 years. He writes about his personal passion for GLBTQ Online High School, “I have been working with gay youth since I came out in college. I’ve helped organize conferences, lead glbtq organizations, and started a city-wide glbtq youth activist group.  Working with GLBTQ Online High School is an awesome way for me to combine my two passions in life – math and helping glbtq youth!” Paul lives near Kansas City, Kansas.

Ericka Gonzalez is an experienced classroom teacher across all grade levels in public, charter, and private school settings. She holds teacher credentials in Health, Physical Education, English, Language Arts, and Reading, Special Education, Gifted and Talented, and English as a Second Language. Her training includes work in the Montessori method for students in the upper grades. In addition to teaching, Ericka worked with teens as a Librarian Trainee, Pre-Collegiate Academic Development Program Tutor, and Young Men as Fathers Mentor. Her hobbies include running, hiking, dance, attending music festivals, and reading. As a vegetarian since age 10, she advocates for healthy living and well-being. She warns her incoming GLBTQ Online High School students, “My enthusiasm for online teaching and learning is contagious, so watch out! Some of it might just rub off on you!” Ericka lives in northern California.

Susan Jarvis has a B.A. from Dartmouth College and a Master’s of Fine Arts from Rutgers University. Susan teaches studio art, art history and humanities courses online and at the University of Hartford. Her own work in collage, drawing, and painting currently focuses on the environment and the history of our relationship to the earth in western culture. This year, she is drawing and painting in southern France with her partner and twin 6 year olds. You can see her work at www.susanjarvis.com and read about her family’s adventures in France at www.strangersinthevillage.wordpress.com. While in France, she is collecting video and audio clips to use with her students in her GLBTQ Online High School art classes. She also loves being an outspoken positive role model for glbtq youth.

Matt Juda is a science teacher in Rochester, New York. He has a B.A. in Biology from State University of New York College at Geneseo, an M.S. Ed. in Counselor Education from State University of New York College at Brockport, and is currently pursuing his doctorate in Education Administration at the University of Rochester. His dissertation examines an urban school reform model through a program evaluation. Matt helped create a college-prep school in New York and is currently initiating an LGBT group there. In addition to his passion for teaching, Matt enjoys playing with his dogs, traveling, and doing home renovation projects. Matt and his partner live in Irondequoit, New York.

Karen Koupal has been working in online learning for seven years. She has a Master’s Degree in Education, and will be facilitating Social Studies and Language Arts classes for the GLBTQ Online High School. Karen also has a strong interest in Native American history and culture. About her work with GLBTQ Online High School, Karen says, “I am extremely excited for the opportunity to work with students through the GLBTQ Online High School. I believe that this opportunity will allow me to be a supportive adult and role model for GLBTQ student as they develop into successful young adults. It is my hope that this school will be a model for future reform and innovation as we work to better integrate technology into American education.” In her spare (!) time she likes to hike, bike, read, write poetry, listen to music, and play her guitar badly. Karen lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Robyn MacKillop holds a B.S. in Business, an MBA, a Master’s of Arts in Teaching and a PhD in Educational Leadership. Her dissertation, published as a book entitled "Is Online Teaching for You?" focuses on helping experienced teachers transition to the online learning environment. Robyn has five years of experience teaching and developing curriculum in the online environment and wrote the Essentials of Business class for FYI Online that she will be teaching for GLBTQ Online High School. Robyn is a huge proponent of online education that works for kids. About GLBTQ Online High School, Robyn says “I am excited to work for GLBTQ Online High School because of my passion for online teaching and because any organization that promotes the equitable treatment of students like this one does is an organization I want to be a part of.” Robyn lives in Salem, Oregon.

Sionainn Marcoux has a B.A. in Psychology from Stanford University and an M.A. in Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, as well as a California teaching credential in mathematics. While at Stanford, Sionainn found time to become an All-American swimmer under legendary coach Richard Quick. Sionainn taught math for five years at public high schools in the San Francisco Bay Area, and later designed math software and developed curriculum management systems for educational technology companies. She also worked at Princeton Review preparing high school and college students for SAT, GMAT and a number of other tests. She also trained future teachers of SAT prep courses. Sionainn finds that she can foster stronger relationships in the online environment than in bricks & mortar schools, and looks forward to doing so with GLBTQ Online High School students. Sionainn lives in Portland, Oregon.

Andrew Miller is currently a teacher in the Pacific Northwest. He attended the University of Puget Sound where he got a B.A. in Classics and a Master’s Degree in Teaching. Andrew has experience in project based learning, online teaching and best practices, instructional coaching, and literacy strategies. He has taught both online and in the traditional bricks & mortar setting in a variety of subjects, including English, media studies and music. In his free time, he also sings with a vocal jazz ensemble called the Seattle Jazz Singers, a passion that began in high school. Being gay, Andrew finds passion in being a witness to accepting GLBTQ students every day as a teacher, whether that means being out to his students or modeling respect and cooperation with diverse people. He is excited to be in place committed not only these values, but also a student-centered education. Andrew lives in Tacoma, Washington.

Aryn Peters has been working in the education field for 9 years. She has seven years of experience teaching foreign language, including two years serving as the International Languages Instructional Leader in her school. For the past two years, Aryn has been working in the Learning Services Department of an online language learning solutions publisher as both a Language Solutions Trainer and Curriculum Alignment Coordinator. She also has expertise working with the Foreign Language State and National Standards and curriculum writing for second language acquisition. Aryn will be teaching the Spanish courses for GLBTQ Online High School. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and a Master’s degree in K-12 Foreign Language Education. Aryn lives in Kansas City, Missouri.

Mel Petrosky completed his Bachelor’s of Arts degrees in English Literature and Psychology at Seton Hill University. He earned his Juris Doctorate from West Virginia University and practiced social justice law in Massachusetts for several years. He is an NCLB highly qualified teacher and teaches online for Ashford University and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Mel is also a photographer and a published writer and poet. He writes regularly for Options Newsmagazine of Providence, Rhode Island. Mel is excited to be part of this historic opportunity to provide high-quality education to GLBTQ students. Mel lives in Seattle, Washington.

Amanda Pierce has a B.S. in Biology Education. She has been teaching science in Oklahoma for eight years. A passionate lifelong learner, Amanda loves science and loves to turn her students into thinkers, questioners, and problem solvers. About GLBTQ Online High School, Amanda says, “Traditional classrooms just don’t work anymore for all students. This school provides them with a new opportunity – and provides me with an opportunity to get to know students I otherwise wouldn’t get to see in my classroom.” Amanda lives outside of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Cory Plough has been teaching online for six years. He has a B.A. in history and a Master’s Degree in Educational Technology. Cory works for a variety of online programs across the country including training teachers in the state of Idaho, teaching Social Studies for New Mexico and Connecticut, and working with at-risk students in Las Vegas. Cory has written several articles, including some in collaboration with Dr. Michael Barbour, one of the nation’s leading researchers in online education. Cory has presented nationally on the use of social networking in online schools. Regarding GLBTQ Online High School, Cory says, “I am excited to be teaching for GLBTQ. It represents an amazing evolution in education and I can't wait to get to know new students and new colleagues.” Cory lives just outside of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Amber Prince has a B.S. in Biology and Anthropology and a Master’s of Arts degree in Education. She specializes in Biology and teaching English to speakers of other languages. Amber appreciates the reach of online learning and has taught English to students in Korea. She also works on social justice issues, glbtq rights issues and with women’s shelters. She says about GLBTQ Online High School, “Teaching for the GLBTQ Online High School is an awesome opportunity for me because it combines my two great passions, education and social justice. All persons deserve equal treatment – no matter what! The GLBTQ Online High School offers a safe place for teens and young adults to learn and be themselves.” Amber lives in Washington State near the Canadian border with her 10-year-old son, her two cats, and her Pug.