Michael Gyra
Barnstable High School
Hyannis, MA

Michael has been teaching science for 15 years. He currently teaches Honors Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Astronomy. He is the planner and developer of the Barnstable High School Astro Park, an astronomy facility for multi-disciplinary programming where he has hosted more than 50 star parties. He created the Astro Pen-Pal Program to team high school students with elementary schools students. He helped create the Enoch Cobb Math/Science Academy, a six-week summer program for middle school students to earn high school math and science credits. Michael earned a B.S. in Biology/Chemistry from Keene State College and an MA in Education from Georgia Southern University.

Abby Shlomit Hoffman
Neighborhood House Charter School
Dorchester, MA

Abby has been a science teacher for four years. She runs KidLab, a science program for students in grades pre-K-5. This is a hands-on, project-based science program where she manages the budget, develops the curriculum, and teaches sciences to 170 students through the fifth grade. Nominated for Massachusetts Teacher of the Year in 2004, Abby has presented the KidLab model at national conferences. Her mostly inner-city students ranked fourth in Boston for science in statewide required standardized tests. Abby earned a BA in Sociology from Brandeis University and an MA in Elementary Education from Teachers College of Columbia University.