Levi Patrick
Levi is a 7th generation Oklahoman with experience as a teacher, instructional coach, and curriculum writer. After teaching in Putnam City and Oklahoma City schools, Levi worked at the K20 Center for Education and Community Renewal as a Mathematics Specialist. Most recently, he worked at the Oklahoma State Department of Education for more than eight years as the Director of Computer Science and Secondary Mathematics and Assistant Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction. Levi holds his Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics Education from Oklahoma State University and his Master’s Degree in Instructional and Academic Leadership from the University of Oklahoma.
During his career, Levi has made authentic, ambitious instruction his goal as he has provided countless hours of professional development, designed state policies, managed federal grants, and helped to direct millions of dollars aimed at elevating excellent STEM teaching. Levi has designed and implemented innovative structures that reimagine accountability as a method for envisioning, supporting, and celebrating schools. As a result, Oklahoma has gained national attention for the Champions of Excellence initiative including two research studies focusing on the role Networked Improvement Communities play in creating collective efficacy and affecting instruction, social-emotional, and achievement outcomes. The widely-regarded framework for evaluating STEM integration, co-developed with Tiffany Neill, has become an essential tool for STEM leaders across the country. While serving on the Association of State Supervisors of Mathematics as the Vice-President of Program, Levi co-authored the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics position paper on STEM Education, “Building STEM Education on a Sound Mathematical Foundation,” co-developed the Every Student Succeeds Act Toolkit that provided guidance for reviewing and improving state plans for federally funded initiatives, and received the 2019 State Leadership Service Award in Mathematics from the Association of State Supervisors of Mathematics and Texas Instruments. Levi completed a fellowship with Results for America in 2020 and continues to prioritize evidence-based investments in STEM Education that can ensure all students are STEM-ready and lead choice-filled lives.
When Levi isn’t dreaming about STEM Education, you can find him, his wife Roslyn, and their daughter Ruby hiking, picnicking, cooking, gardening, cycling, birding, or watching Frozen for the umpteen-millionth time.
Emily Mortimer
Emily Mortimer is a rural Missouri native with a B.S. in Biology from Missouri State University, M.S. in Teaching, Learning and Leadership from OSU and currently pursuing a PhD in Curriculum and STEM from OSU. Her professional experience includes 14 years in informal education at the Tulsa Zoo and Dickerson Park Zoo. Over the years, her main job duties included behavioral training for various bird and mammal species, volunteer management, community partnerships, program development, curriculum writing, and education department management. Ten years ago she was a member of the founding team for the teacher professional development program, SENSEsational Science, which is now a TRSA program and has served over 400 Oklahoma teachers and given out over 32,000 hours of PD.
When not at work, Emily enjoys spending time with her husband and young son building and exercising on American Ninja Warrior Obstacles in their backyard, hiking, gardening, baking, swimming and running.
Sarah Floyd
Sarah Floyd graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2011 with a B.A. in Public Relations and joined TRSA in 2020. Sarah has primarily worked in the non-profit sector, and she served as the spokesperson for Tulsa Zoo for several years.
Sarah enjoys spending time outside with her husband, son, and dog, Daphne.
Melissa Cobb
Melissa received her B.S. in Secondary Science Education from Oklahoma State University. She has 9 years experience teaching high school Environmental Science, Marine Science, and STEM. Before becoming an educator, she worked as a Medical Laboratory Technologist. Melissa is passionate about supporting teachers and helping students overcome barriers, making STEM education more accessible to all. Melissa enjoys spending time with her husband, traveling, reading, and training her dogs in competition agility.
Lynn Staggs
Lynn Staggs is the Chief of Staff for TRSA. Having worked in the tech industry for many years, TRSA and its mission of raising awareness about and interest in STEM is near and dear to her heart.
Living with a husband with a science degree and raising a daughter with a science degree and a son with an engineering degree, Lynn is the maverick in the family with a double major in literature and mass media studies.
While this is the first time she’s been paid for her work at a non-profit, Lynn has accumulated thousands of volunteer hours at numerous non-profits – starting in high school when she volunteered with a special needs Girl Scout troop, through the PTA years, and up to her current board membership at the League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Tulsa.
Away from work, she lives by the rally cry of her birth city, New Orleans — laissez le bon temps rouler!
Kristen Tanner
Kristen received her B.S. in Elementary Education and Masters Certificate in STEM Education from Northeastern State University and has 12 years of experience in the classroom, most recently as an elementary STEM teacher. She has a passion for STEM education, working with and encouraging teachers, and helping students broaden their horizons and change the future. She has been married to her husband for over 20 years and they have two amazing daughters. They love to travel and visit National Parks. When she’s not attending one of her daughters’ many band events, you can probably find her pulling weeds in the yard while dreaming of her next hiking and road trip.
Savannah Chamberlin
Savannah comes from The Muscogee Nation where she was the Special Projects Coordinator for the Department of Education and Training. Before working in Special Projects, she worked in the Muscogee Nation’s Higher Education program as the Student/ Campus Engagement Specialist. During this time, Savannah connected with students enrolled in colleges and universities to the Higher Education program. Since working in Special Projects, Savannah has led several initiatives in her program, including her most recent “Nak Vcullvke Vketeck,” known as The Museum Project. Savannah worked with both administrators and students to accurately represent the Muscogee people within the classroom.
Savannah enjoys spending time with her six dogs.
