RGVSA Board President for 2008-2009

Susana Ramirez

Susana Ramirez is a 5th Grade Science Teacher at Reed & Mock Elementary at PSJA ISD.  She is currently in her 9th year of teaching at PJSA.  She is the Science specialist for her campus.  She was recently named teacher of the year for 2008 at her campus and she has been nominated by Region One for Science Teacher of the Year 2008 for the Texas Regional Collaborative  in Science. (To be announced in the annual meeting in July 2008).  She was also awarded Science Mentor Teacher of the Year in 2005 by the Texas Regional Collaborative of Science by the Regional Collaborative of UTPA.

RGVSA Former President of 2007-2008

Michael Wertz

Janie Leal

RGVSA Vice President 2008-2009

Janie Leal

Janie Leal is the Science Lab Manager at M.A.P. Muñoz Elementary at Donna ISD. She graduated with a Bachelors of Science from the University of Texas Pan American with majors in Biology and Health Education. She is currently a member of the University of Texas Pan American Science Collaborative and the Region One Science Collaborative. She was recently named a Shell Oil Science Collaborative Scholar and was awarded a scholarship toward her Masters in Science. She is also a member of the Texas Council of Elementary Teachers, Science Teachers Association of Texas, and the National Science Teachers Association.

Michael Sweet

RGVSA Secretary 2008-2009

Michael Sweet

Michael Anthony Sweet is a 5TH grade teacher at Carman Elementary with Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD. He is currently in his 9th year and teaches the Gifted and Talented Section. He is also a Destination Imagination Sponsor and is the sponsor for the Recycling Club and the Leadership Council. He is a member of STAT, where he currently serves on the nominating committee, and the Texas Council for Elementary Science.

Robert Soper

RGVSA Treasurer 2008-2009

Robert Soper

Robert has served on the RGVSA board for 20 years since it started. He is now retired after serving as a science teacher and science coordinator at PSJA for 28 years.

Mike Baldwin

RGVSA Newsletter Editor

Mike Baldwin

Mike is the Past President of RGVSA, The Rio Grande Valley Regional Science Fair Director, Board Member of South Texas Trend Benders, Science Specialist for the Brownsville Independent School District. He is a author of Dinomike and Tzeasuara Find a Plesiosaur:
http://www.trafford.com/4dcgi/next-prev?rbDirection=Next&Field=Title&item=4498&22134312-12797aaa
He is a author Discoverer of the Baldwin Plesiosaur: http://www-museum.unl.edu/research/vertpaleo/Ples/photos1.html, and the first person to photograph,
and document the Green-Breasted Mango Hummingbird in the United States. Mike Baldwin can be contacted at lbaldwin at rgv.rr.com

Karen McNallen

RGVSA Director of Vendors

Karen McNallen

Karen has served on the RGVSA board for 5 years. She is Coordinator of Elementary Science at McAllen ISD. She has taught for 25 years; the last 15 have been as a middle school science teacher

RGVSA Webmaster/ Secondary Education

Moses J. Castillo

Moses has 12 years of science teaching experience all of them with Weslaco ISD. He has taught science in both 7th and 8th grades. He currently became a Library Media Specialist at D.M. "Dora" Sauceda Middle School with Donna ISD. He is active in helping students out in extracurriculur activities that are math/science related. He is currently involved as campus coordinator/coach of UIL Academics, Science Fair, Science Olympiad , and National Middle School Science Bowl.

RGVSA Historian/Public Relations Liaison

Belinda Reininger

Belinda has served as a board member for RGVSA for past 5 years. She works for the University of Texas – Houston School of Public Health as a behavioral scientist.

RGVSA Director of Elementary Education

Shonie Castaneda

Shonie is a past president of RGVSA. She teaches elementary science at Buckner Elementary at PSJA.

Region One Science Coordinator:

Julie Reynolds

Science Specialists:

Elda Christian

Charles Ratliff

Gina Saenz

Region One Representatives

for Science Education

Robert Peynado

Robert Peynado

Robert has served on the RGVSA board for 20 years. He was a science educator for 35 years before retiring, but has recently returned to the classroom as a chemistry teacher and department head at Raymondville High School.