Carole Crain, Ph.D.
Program Director
Instructor: Science and PPR | email: carole@edex2.com

Dr. Crain has been a science teacher (certified composite science 6-12), an administrator with public schools (both campus & central office), and a university faculty member. This includes over 25 years of educational experience with specialties in the area of curriculum and instruction in science and math. She has taught teacher education courses at the university level, coordinated a graduate internship program for masters degreed students at the university level and directed a magnet middle school program. In addition, she has presented at numerous conferences and seminars.

Lynn Kirby, MLA.
CPE Director
Instructor: Science, EC-6th grade & PPR | email

Lynn Kirby teaches at The University of Texas at Austin with the UTeach Program, preparing highly qualified young science and math teachers. Prior to that, she spent seventeen years in the classroom where she developed curriculum for 6th, 7th and 8th grade science classes, established and taught elective classes in Environmental Science, Anthropology, Geology of Texas, Plant Studies and Navigating the Internet. Lynn has also worked to create a Pre-AP Program designed for Kealing to help bridge minority students into the magnet program. Lynn was the co-chairperson for the national College Board committee writing the AP Vertical Team Guide for Science and she and Jason Hook co-authored Laying the Foundations: Pre-AP Middle School Science Life/Earth and The Lighthouse Guide to Science. She received a B.S. in Geology from the University of Texas at Austin and an MLA from St. Edwards University and is a Microsoft Certified Professional and Trainer.

Diana Adamson
Instructor: English Language Arts & Reading |

Diana Adamson is an award winning educator and a published author. She is certified in the area of English 6th-12th grade and currently teaches English as well as Pre-AP English at McCallum High School in the Austin Independent School District. Her experience includes nine years of teaching English at the middle school level and over ten years at the high school level. Ms. Adamson has presented at a variety of teacher conferences including the National Council for the Teachers of English, the Magnet Schools of Texas Conference and the Texas Middle School Association Conference. Diana has been nominated Teacher of the Year at both McCallum High School and Kealing Middle School. She was the recipient of the President's Travel Research Grant and the Co-Recipient of the Texas Council for Humanities Grant. Ms. Adamson also designed and implemented the Gifted and Talented English Program at Centennial High School and the School Wide Writing Program at Page Middle School.

Scott Pass
Instructor: Mathematics |

Scott Pass has taught Algebra I and II, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus and Statistics over the past 16 years. He coordinated the Advanced Placement program at Taylor High School. He taught AP Calculus at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas for eight years, and currently teaches AP Calculus and AP Statistics at Reagan High School in Austin, Texas in an effort to improve mathematics instruction in an urban public school setting. Early in his teaching career he participated in the Institute of Advanced Studies/Park City Mathematics Institute, which vertically aligns various mathematics professionals and students to help stimulate the reform of mathematics teaching. This formative experience stimulated an interest in mathematical problem solving as a catalyst to draw out mathematical thought from his students. Scott has trained with the College Board in areas such as AP Vertical Teams, technology, and advanced topics related to the teaching of Pre-AP® Mathematics and AP Calculus. Scott Pass is a College Board® consultant and leads workshops in Pre-AP® Mathematics Topics, AP® Vertical Teams, and AP® Calculus.

Therese Wafford
Instructor: Early Childhood through 6th grade |

Therese Wafford Therese Wafford is currently an assistant principal in the Round Rock Independent School District. The experience she brings to her campus and to Educator’s of Excellence comes from being a master teacher in grades 2, 4 and 5. She continues to be involved in professional development to stay informed about new educational research practices to collaborate with teachers on her campus and other professionals within the district. Ms. Wafford’s experiences include presenting at a state conference for ELL teachers, as well as, presenting at the district and campus level with a focus on classroom best practice in all content areas. She continually attends conferences and workshops presented by the best authors in the field for literacy and RtI. She believes that best practice is the key to supporting every individual involved in the process of developing students to strive and achieve life goals whatever it takes.

Bill Staples
Instructor: Social Studies |

Bill Staples has a BFA in education from the University of Texas. With a background in the performing arts, Bill approaches the regular classroom setting with a different perspective than most teachers. He is very comfortable with programs such as History Alive that mirror his own style of teaching. He understands that teaching to a variety of learning styles is key; combining lecture/discussion, analyzing primary source documents, using hands-on kinesthetic exercises, and allowing the students to be responsible for much of the material in the curriculum is very important. Bill has taught since 1985, working on the middle school level and the high school level. In 1990, he took the job as theatre director at McCallum High School in Austin, Texas. In the position as theatre director, he was a founding member of the McCallum Fine Arts Academy. During this decade, Bill became involved with the Boston based organization, Facing History and Ourselves. His work with this organization took him to the International Tolerance Festival held in a former Nazi Holocaust camp located in Terezin, Czech Republic. Bill began as a workshop participant but eventually became a faculty member with the festival. In 2000, he moved into the social studies area at McCallum teaching in a Pre-Advanced Placement program where sophomore level English and World History connect with several shared assignments and team teaching. During the summer of 2007, Bill was engaged to teach at the Leysin American School in Leysin, Switzerland. In the past few years, Bill has also helped to guide the McCallum Social Studies area as co-chair of the department. With his varied experience, Bill feels that he can be a guide, mentoring individuals wishing to enter the teaching profession.