Montclair Kimberley Academy (MKA) is excited to announce that Petra Sauer, Ph.D., Upper School Science Department Chair and Science Teacher, has been appointed MKA’s second Director of STEM+ Programming. MKA colleagues assisted in the search to fill this position, which will oversee STEM+ programming for the Upper School campus (grades nine through 12) and begin in July of this year.

Petra joined MKA in 2018 as a member of the Upper School math and science departments where she has taught calculus, physics, and astronomy. She then became the Chair of the Science Department in 2020 and has served in this role for the past five years. During her tenure, Petra has been instrumental in fostering collaborations between faculty, creating professional development experiences, and helping to grow initiatives like our science research program.

Petra arrived at MKA with extensive experience in both teaching and scientific research. As a researcher, she investigated problems that live at the intersection of physics, chemistry, and biology, including work in the fields of DNA nanotechnology, chemical sensing, and atomic and molecular optics. She taught subjects ranging from mechanics and electromagnetics to quantum mechanics and optics at Drew University, Bard High School Early College, Texas A&M University, and Stevens Institute of Technology. 

Petra is deeply committed to the MKA community and helping students develop and connect STEM skills and mindsets to their individual pursuits. She sees “the process of guiding our students to make connections between the ideas that ‘light them up’ and the skills and mindsets that come from the STEM fields as foundational to MKA’s STEM+ programming; these connections are the plus in STEM+." Her thoughtful approach to her teaching, leadership, and the future of STEM at MKA is rooted in her “deep and genuine understanding of our students as individuals and as learners,” as well as her emphasis on honoring student voice in shaping and assessing existing initiatives and developing new ideas.

As she begins to work in tandem with Chris McLaughlin, MKA’s first Director of STEM+ Programming for Pre-K through eighth grade who was appointed in July 2024, Petra brings immense expertise to this new role in expanding MKA's STEM+ programming and opportunities for future innovation.

Please join MKA in congratulating Petra.