The month of March celebrates Women’s History Month and NJ STEM Month. In honor of these observances, Montclair Kimberley Academy (MKA) is highlighting some amazing women faculty and staff members. Through their work, these educators are helping to create experiences and opportunities that not only expand the minds of students but also develop their character, placing them at the leading edge of building an innovative future.

The women featured serve as role models. With their passion, dedication, and unwavering belief in the power of STEM to shape the future, they are guiding the next generation of MKA innovators. Below you’ll hear about the impetus for their love of STEM, the impact of their work, and how they’re challenging all students, especially young girls considering careers in STEM, to stretch the bounds of what is possible.

MKA women in STEM, we honor you.

Join us in celebrating these inspiring educators. Learn more about MKA’s unique approach to the STEM disciplines through STEM+ stories and news, stay updated on the progress of our 27,000 sq. ft. Inquiry and Innovation Center, and explore ways that you can support the next phase of innovation at MKA, by visiting www.mka.org/innovation.

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Erica Budd, Director of Educational Technology, Upper School Technology and Learning Coordinator, Upper School Coordinator of Professional Development

Carpe diem! Translated as “seize the day,” this Latin phrase is exactly what Erica Budd did when transitioning into the STEM field from her background in studying the over 2,000-year-old language.

Erica fondly remembers stumbling into her STEM role by accident over 20 years ago. With a love for language, she received her B.A. and M.A. in Latin, as that felt like a natural path. However, she states that it was her time studying the language that prepared her for her current position and ultimately helped her more than she realized. “Latin is highly structured and one must apply rules and patterns in order to read and understand Latin literature,” she said. “Therefore, studying Latin was instrumental in developing my logical reasoning, analytical, and critical thinking skills. My experience in the classroom teaching Latin helped develop my ability to help my students learn these same thinking skills.”

Much of Erica’s time today is devoted to generative artificial intelligence. She is the co-chair along with the Director of Libraries and Research, Jenny Rosenoff, of an AI working group made up of MKA faculty from all three campuses. They are currently working on guidance for the ethical and responsible use of generative AI for faculty and students, which will figure significantly in the future of STEM at MKA. Erica shares some advice to young girls considering pursuing a career in STEM saying:

If you are interested in and curious about a career in a STEM field, go for it. We don’t know what we are capable of until we try. Sometimes the biggest barriers are those we create for ourselves in our minds.

 

Jacqy Chung, Middle School Instructional Technologist

Jacqy’s journey to STEM was cultivated from the lore of science fiction novels and movies which she found to be both fascinating and interesting. The stories she’s seen and read piqued her curiosity in science and technology, how things worked, and how those things could be used to solve problems. 

That initial spark was further fostered in several educational technology courses during her master’s program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. After graduating, she took the certification course “Teacher Tinker Technology Bootcamp: Use EdTech to Build a 21st Century Classroom” at Teachers College, Columbia University and has since continuously developed as a technology educator. Before MKA, Jacqy was a Kindergarten through eighth-grade technology teacher and integration specialist at Stevens Cooperative School for over seven years.

Currently, Jacqy is working with the EdTech team at MKA, including Erica Budd and Helen Noble, to map a scope and sequence of foundational tech literacy and digital citizenship skills that will support future planning and inform purposeful EdTech integration practices across the campuses from Pre-K through 12th grade. At the Middle School, she is also working on increasing exposure to foundations of computer science through Tech Bytes classes as well as offering coding FLEX classes. Jacqy shared her advice to young girls considering a career in STEM saying:

Think about how STEM is a part of the world that we live in and how much it shapes our lives. This world needs our voices and our contributions in STEM. So be curious, don't be afraid to make mistakes, and remember that your unique perspective is valuable in STEM.

 

Catherine Gaynor, Assistant Head of Middle School    

Catherine came to MKA with an extensive background in the STEM fields and a love of learning and problem-solving that has shaped her dynamic career to this day. The pursuit of her undergraduate degree from Union College, a liberal arts institution with a strong engineering program, fostered her interest in STEM. Through her graduate studies at the University of Massachusetts, she was able to focus on science while simultaneously studying electives that supported education, teaching practice, mathematics, and technology. The program addressed the value of problem-solving in education and in the classroom.

It is Catherine’s most recent degree in teacher education and teacher development that aids her role today. “I am actively working on supporting the current experiences of students and faculty,” she explained. The professional support that she is able to provide to MKA faculty has set the institution apart, on a path to fully realizing STEM+ (MKA’s unique approach to the STEM disciplines) programming. Catherine shares, “I see my role as one behind the scenes, drawing attention to the good work occurring and finding the resources and connections where needed as a way of amplifying the experiences and bolstering them through varied approaches.” Catherine shares her advice to young girls considering a career in STEM saying:

Follow your interests and curiosities. As you change and they change, look for opportunities to connect your interests and passions. You can make an impact.

 

Helen Noble, Primary School Educational Tech Coordinator/Administrator

Helen’s interest in STEM was ignited during a maker-centered professional development workshop she attended one summer. Inspired by this experience, she pitched and led a summer camp offering where four to 10-year-olds tackled weekly design challenges. She shared, “Watching these young campers collaborate, prototype, test, and iterate on their projects confirmed my belief in the power of hands-on, STEM-based learning opportunities at all ages.” She went on to complete her master’s program in computing education with a focus on teaching and learning with technology from Columbia University which prepared her to lead effective technology integration.

Currently, Helen is collaborating with the Tri-campus Ed Tech team to develop a Pre-K through 12th-grade technology scope and sequence to support cohesive technology experiences that align with STEM+ initiatives across MKA campuses. She is helping to explore opportunities for creating maker spaces that foster iterative learning and content creation for Primary School students, including supporting many project-based learning experiences. In April of this year, she will be attending “The Language of Computation” workshop at the Constructing Modern Knowledge Institute in Reggio Emilia, Italy, to engage in hands-on projects and explore the Reggio Emilia approach adopted at the Primary School alongside other educators. Helen shared her advice to young girls considering a career in STEM saying:

Dive in, ask questions, and explore new possibilities—amazing discoveries await! Developing strong communication skills will empower you to collaborate and share your terrific ideas with others.

 

Emily Tompsett, Upper School Math & Computer Science Teacher

Emily’s love of STEM developed when she was a child. Her father was a programmer and often times played algebra games with her. It was her sophomore year in school where she fell in love with math during her first honors math class. Her passion for computer science followed during her years in college through the encouragement and guidance of her professor who later became her advisor.

Over the past few years at MKA, Emily has been working on a thread in the computer science curriculum called Responsible Computing. She notes that the thread, “gives students opportunities to reflect on and critically analyze both the technology we create and the technology that already exists.”

Emily received her B.S. in math and computer science at Hamilton College. While there, she was a teaching assistant in both the math and computer science departments. Following her undergraduate degree, she began teaching at the Commonwealth School in Boston, MA while completing her master’s degree during her first two years of teaching. She has also been an AP Reader for the AP Computer Science A exam since 2021. Emily shared her advice to young girls considering a career in STEM saying:

If you enjoy something, you don't have to be the best at it to pursue it, but you do need to work hard. If you're willing to put in the work, don't let anyone steer you in any other direction! But it's also okay to try things and realize they aren't for you and change course.