Board of Directors
Richard Seitz is currently a high school teacher at Helena High School. He spent two summer's teaching gifted and talented Chinese students in Hong Kong and one summer teaching math teachers in Shanghai China. In the last few years he has traveled extensively across the USA putting on workshops for mathematics teachers. He has been a writer for a middle school mathematics text and is currently on the Board of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. He has received a Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching of Mathematics as well as holding National Board Certification in Mathematics of Adolescents and Young Adults. This summer he is spending some time exploring mathematics in Italy, remodeling a 1888 house, hosting his daughter's wedding, and working at the Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake.
Glenn Allinger is retired from the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Montana State University-Bozeman. “In the beginning”, Glenn taught mathematics and coached at the middle school and high school levels in both Ohio and New Jersey. He then followed his dream to become a teacher of teachers. After earning a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Utah in 1972, Glenn joined the faculty at MSU-Bozeman to work with both undergraduate and graduates, traveling to numerous Montana communities. That effort was extended to the national scene by work as co-chair of Professional Development for the 1990’s Systemic Initiative for Mathematics and Sciences (SIMMS) NSF project. After 26 years at MSU-Bozeman and 36 years consumed by teaching, professional development and research, Glenn and wife, Lee, continue to reside in Bozeman and at Canyon Ferry Lake. He enjoys fishing, hunting, biking, reading, visiting children/grandchildren and volunteering for many good causes.
Paul Andersen currently teaches biology at Bozeman High School. He is also the technology coordinator. He is a new member to the board and is currently working on upgrading the MLC website. Over the next two summers he will study the Effects of Antibiotic Resistance on Biofilm Formation Capabilities in Clinical Isolates through the Parners in Science Program. He enjoys spending time with his family skiing and hiking in the mountains around Bozeman. This picture was taken during a summer trip to the Galapagos Islands with a group of AP Biology students from Bozeman High.
David Erickson, Ph.D., Associate Professor in The Department of Curriculum and Instruction at The University of Montana, serves his second 3-year term on the Board of Directors of the Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake. Erickson’s interests include secondary mathematics teacher preparation and teacher change issues in regard to the changing focus brought about by standards, testing, and increased post-secondary school attendance. Teaching for 2.5 years in Malaysia in secondary school integrated science classrooms through the Peace Corps helped develop his interests in inquiry learning. Fourteen additional years teaching high school mathematics, computer science, and some chemistry and 17 more years teaching in higher education combine to encourage his research in teacher change. The Before It’s Too Late (BITL) grant from the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education aim to increase both teacher and student success in mathematics in the middle and high schools in Montana.
Eric Feaver is president of the MEA-MFT (AFL-CIO). From 1974 to 1984, Feaver taught English and social studies in the Helena public schools. In 1984, he was elected president of the former MEA. He held that post until the year 2000, when he was elected the first president of the MEA-MFT. He has been been re-elected four times for two-year terms since then. Feaver was born in Wyoming and raised in Oklahoma. From 1969 to 1970, he served in Vietnam in the 4th Infantry Division as an army combat medic. He earned a BA in government, history and economics from the University of Oklahoma, an MA in American history from the University of Maryland and an honorary doctorate of education from Montana State University.
Liz Gunderson practiced pediatrics in Montana for 24 years - 2 years at Crow Agency, and 22 years in Helena. She retired in 2000, and since then has worked with various non-profits to promote science education for children. She is currently very active in the development of ExplorationWorks, a science center in Helena opening in Nov 2007, and she particularly enjoys teaching about computer programming, robotics, and stream insects in the afterschool learning environment. Her future goals include helping to develop collaborative networks between the many area science resources, including MLC.Liz Gundersen
Sue Harding entered the world of middle school in fall 2007 after thirty years in Kalispell, Montana elementary schools. She facilitates the learning of eleven year olds (sixth graders). A self- directed journey begun to better understand how children learn mathematics, branched into facilitating the professional learning of K-8 educator in mathematics in association with the Marilyn Burns Educations Associates of Sausalito, CA, with the Mathematics Education Collaborative of Ferndale, WA, and with Montana grant COMET (Creating Opportunity in Mathematics for Exemplary Teaching). Sue presents at state and national math conferences.
Gene Hickman is retired Air Force officer where he spent 19 years as a Munitions Officer (Ordnance Engineer), 3 years as an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Science and 4 years working various environmental programs. He was specially selected for the Secretary of Defense’s Biodiversity Initiative, working on an inter-disciplinary team developing a Department of Defense biodiversity policy, implementation plan and natural resource manager’s guide. He was also a senior member of the command team reviewing environmental compliance assessment programs affecting 21 Air Force installations and 108 off-site locations His academic training is in Biology, Earth Science and Wildlife Management. He has 3 years of High School and 9 years of University teaching experience, teaching general and advanced biology, environmental science, ornithology, oceanography, and wildlife biology. He was the founder of two chapters of the National Audubon Society, one in Fairbanks, Alaska and the other in Great Falls, Montana. Gene has worked for the past 11 years as a wildlife, environmental and historical consultant and educator with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the U.S. Park Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense, the Montana Audubon Society, and others. Gene has made his home in Helena where he raises show chickens, gardens, hunts, writes, and pursues his interests in experimental archeology. He is an active member and officer of the American Mountain Men and the Montana Poultry Fancier’s Association. Gene enjoys sharing his knowledge and love of natural history, primitive technology, American history, and chickens, and has an active schedule of educational programs in these areas.
Rick Jones is a Doctoral Fellow for the Center for Leaning and Teaching in the West in addition to teaching sciences courses at the Senior High Freshman Academy at Billings Public Schools. He is currently a doctoral candidate at MSU in Bozeman researching Perceived vs. Enacted Science Curriculum and The Effect of Science Teaching Practice on Two Montana Individual Reservations. He is also currently working on the use of robotic s and engineering design in the science classroom, increasing teacher content and pedagogical content knowledge in math and science via distance learning and online mentoring. Coordination or regional middle school science bowl and hydrogen fuel cell car race, facilitating an on line Earth System Science course and researching the changing mental models of female students in regards to science.
As a mathematics educator, Jennifer Luebeck has enjoyed teaching, learning, and doing mathematics with students as well as pre-service and in-service teachers for over fifteen years in Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana. She is currently an associate professor in the Mathematical Sciences department at MSU-Bozeman, where she works primarily with future middle and high school mathematics teachers. Her interests include developing and implementing frameworks for effective professional development in mathematics, particularly for novice mathematics teachers and teachers in isolated rural areas. Many of her professional development projects involve significant online learning components. Luebeck has hosted several summer institutes and academic year workshops at the Montana Learning Center, and currently coordinates two professional development projects through the Center.
Beth currently teaches environmental education in the Great Falls Public Schools which involves modeling and using inquiry science to lead students on field investigations as they learn about the natural world. Previously, she enjoyed teaching science for twelve years at the middle school. She has taught science summer camps for the past four years. She also provides leadership within her district to new teachers and provides professional development in science. Being selected as one of twelve teachers in the nation to work with scientists using NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope has been a highlight of her career. Beth received the 2003 Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching. Her interests and hobbies include photography, scrapbooking, reading, kayaking, hiking, and cooking as well as spending time with her husband and three children.