TRSA Staff
Get to know the Nerd Herd
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 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.
Kristen received her B.S. in Elementary Education from Northeastern State University and has 12 years 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 22 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.
Wil joined TRSA in July 2020. Before his current role, Wil has worked with a variety of organizations across the educational pipeline. He has over 12 years of educational experience ranging from data- supported professional development to educational research and curriculum assessment.
In his free time, Wil loves landscaping, stargazing, and enjoying time with his wife, children, and dogs.
Taylor Smith has joined the TRSA team as the Mentorship and Volunteer Program Manager. A Tulsa-area native, she received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Spanish from The University of Tulsa in 2014. Taylor has several years of experience with mentoring and volunteerism, both on a personal and professional level in the non-profit sector.
Taylor serves on the Board of Directors at Dayspring Villa, a local shelter that provides care for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. If she is not working on her own budget, you might find her teaching a financial literacy class and helping others with their personal finances.
In addition, Taylor enjoys spending time with her husband Jacob and dog Holmes, traveling, attending concerts or OKC Thunder games, and Chick-fil-A.
Lynn Staggs is the Office Manager 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!
Sarah Floyd graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2011 with a B.A. in Public Relations. Sarah has worked in strategic communications and marketing, and she also served as the spokesperson for the Tulsa Zoo for many years. Sarah is devoted to the nonprofit sector, and she is especially passionate about promoting efforts that serve underserved communities.
When not at work, Sarah enjoys spending time outside with her husband and dog, Luna.
MacKenzie moved to Tulsa in 2014 for a service year with the AmeriCorps program City Year and has since fallen in love with the city and its nonprofit community. MacKenzie earned a B.A. from UC Berkeley in Art History with a focus on Digital Media and minors in Education and Peace and Conflict Studies. Before she joined TRSA, MacKenzie taught CareerTech courses in TPS, and worked for both tribal and municipal governments in programming and outreach capacities. In 2018, she completed a Masters of Public Administration at OU-Tulsa, with an emphasis in Nonprofit Organization. In her free time, MacKenzie likes to take on any yarn based craft and enjoys playing trivia with her husband, Caleb.