Instructor Information

Emily Berman

Emily Berman teaches physics with the 11^th grade cohort of the Global Stem Challenges program.   This is Ms. Berman's first year teaching with the program and her eighth year as a teacher- previously she taught in Illinois and in Rhode Island.  She holds a B.A. in Neuroscience from Wesleyan University and a M.A.T. in Secondary Science Education from Brown University.  She is a 2015 Knowles Teacher Initiative Teaching Fellow. In her spare time, Ms. Berman enjoys being outside in any way she can- walking, hiking, and biking, and she also loves to cook.  She is thrilled to facilitate the enrichment of the Global STEM community using her students' amazing skillsets and identities!

Ivan Chirinos

He is one of two Technology and Engineering teachers on the team and works on bridging the gap between knowledge and application to help the students create working prototypes. Students are exposed to the TEE curriculum covered in 7 classes taught separately in the school. He enjoys demonstrating, assisting and exposing students to the world of problem solving.

Kelly Dresen

Kelly Dresen teaches math with the 10^th grade cohort of the Global Stem Challenges program.   This is Mrs. Dresen’s third year teaching with the program and her fifth year as a teacher at Edison.  Mrs. Dresen transitioned to the teaching field after a career working with foreign languages.  She holds a B.S. in Economics from George Mason University and she will complete her M.Ed. degree at Mason this spring.   

Desanka Elwell 

Desanka (Desa) Elwell teaches Integrated Engineering I & III with the 9th and 11th grade cohorts of the Global STEM Challenges Program. Mrs. Elwell holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Marquette University. Mrs. Elwell has transitioned to teaching after spending 20 years in the banking industry and 10 years raising her three children and volunteering at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.  She enjoys traveling with her family.

Alex Jarma

Alex Jarama teaches math with the 9th grade cohort of the Global STEM Challenges Program. Mr. Jarama grew up in central New Jersey and attended the University of Virginia. He holds a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering and a B.A. degree in German Studies. As an undergraduate, he spent a semester studying at the Technical University of Munich in Germany. Mr. Jarama stayed at UVA to pursue his M.S. degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. He is an avid UVA basketball fan, and he enjoys attending sporting events and traveling. This is Mr. Jarama's first year teaching, and he is extremely excited to work with his students to help them connect complex math concepts to real world challenges. 

Chris Kniesly

Chris A Kniesly is an Indianapolis, IN native who graduated with a degree Social Sciences Education from Purdue University. Mr. Kniesly earned a Masters of Science in Agricultural Education from the University of Illinois and is currently working on a Doctorate in Diversity and Equity from the University of Illinois. Mr. Kniesly is the 2019 recipient of the USDA's Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture Award and has collaborated with TED-Ed on several agriculture lessons. Mr. Kniesly is a life-long learner who loves working on innovations with gardening, poultry, and sustainability. Mr. Kniesly is also a multiple brass instrumentalist and avid outdoorsman.

Cathryn Schoeppner

Cathryn Schoeppner teaches 10^th grade science in the Global Stem Challenges program.  Cathryn is new to Edison and Northern Virginia, having recently graduated from The Ohio State University with a B. S. in Chemistry and a Masters in STEM Education. She enjoys connecting chemistry to real world applications and is especially interested in environmental chemistry.