Virtual Science Teachers is made up of professionals with extensive experience in education, technology, product development, governance, and finance. We have come together with a shared mission—to support science teachers and create knowledge and skill-building resources that help all students develop a strong foundation in science.
Jordan Burton is an accomplished educator with a fervent passion for inspiring the next generation of innovators. After graduating from Old Dominion University in 2014, he dedicated his career to teaching engineering with Norfolk Public Schools in Virginia, beginning in 2015.
Beyond his classroom endeavors, Jordan actively shapes the future of engineering education. Since 2018, he has played a pivotal role in developing curriculum and leading instruction for the Try Engineering Summer Camps, cultivating creativity and critical thinking in young minds.
With unwavering commitment to education and a distinguished track record in the field, Jordan Burton stands as a pillar in the world of STEM education. He has created a lasting impact on students, equipping them for a future brimming with opportunities and innovation.
Donna Falk’s professional journey has been quite diverse, transitioning from her role as a Scientist to becoming a dedicated Middle School Science Teacher and now Instructional Design Expert. Holding a degree in Microbiology from Rutgers University, she initially worked as a scientist, testing orange juice from tanker ships, developing preservatives for various materials, writing technical documents, and contributing to Rutgers University’s Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences.
When her children reached middle school, Donna pursued her science teaching certification. With more than 17 years of experience in teaching middle school science, she spent the first 14 years designing and instructing a unique course called Forensic Science. This innovative class linked scientific concepts to crime-solving techniques, engaging every 8th-grade student — over 600 students annually. Through this extensive teaching exposure, she honed her ability to tailor lessons to diverse learning levels and situations.
When the pandemic emerged, Donna volunteered to instruct the core 8th grade science curriculum in a fully virtual setting. This undertaking required her to grasp new subject matter and seamlessly adapt it into digital lessons. Despite the challenges, she found immense satisfaction in devising hands-on lab activities that students could perform using minimal supplies, from the comfort of their homes.
Donna states that her motivation for becoming a middle school science teacher stemmed from her desire to help students in this age group who might approach science with trepidation. Her greatest joy lies in winning over these hesitant students and demonstrating that science is not only enjoyable and captivating, but also relevant and interconnected with their daily lives.
Residing by the sea in Belmar, NJ, Donna shares her home with her husband, Jon, and their mini labradoodle, Ruby.
Rubén Perea Leyva is a physics professor at Colegio de Bachilleres del Estado de Veracruz (COBAEV): Plantel 50 in the port of Veracruz, Mexico. He is mechanical electrical engineering and a master’s degree in
“Communication Sciences and Education”. Since 1995, he has been teaching physics and mathematics.
His teaching approach is based on experimentation and the creation of didactic, experimental, and technologically applicable prototypes. Over the years, he has advised students who have won national prizes in the National Physics Apparatus and Experiments Competition. He is a co-author of the Physics 1 book and the author of the Physics 2 book for COBAEV.
Since January 2021, he has been collaborating with the PhET project at the University of Colorado Boulder as a learning activity designer for physics.
In 2022, he was selected as a PhET Fellow along with 15 Fellows in Africa and 17 Fellows in Latin America who are exemplary educators committed to increasing the accessibility and impact of PhET simulations.
Irene Margitich graduated from the University of Hawaii with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. Next stop was Caltech where she spent 5 years working as a research assistant for Dr. N. Davidson, a National Medal of Science Awardee.
The University of Miami (UM) welcomed her as she continued her research in multiple fields….Genetics, Cell Biology and Neuroscience at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis.
In 2007, Irene accepted a position with Dr. J. Hare in The Stem Cell Research Institute at UM. The labs were focused on translational cardiology and stem cell biology. Here, she was responsible for coordinating all aspects of running the lab. Irene provided technical and administrative guidance and support to the physicians, postdocs and students in the lab.
As a researcher, Irene continued to do experiments to understand the biology of cardiac stem cells in vitro. Each year, as Director of the Stem Cell Summer Volunteer program she had the opportunity to introduce undergraduate students into hands on research.
Irene retired from the University in May of 2020. Retirement has provided the opportunity to study oil painting, read historical fiction, plant a butterfly garden and think about science for the joy of doing so.
