STEM
Our STEM Department brings our students to the forefront of scientific thinking, which guides and shapes technology as it grows to meet the increasing demands of a new world vision. STEM classes foster curiosity and analytical thinking, encouraging students to imagine, innovate, and create. Our core courses in Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics build confidence and competence, providing a solid foundation from which students’ understanding can grow. Having developed these building blocks using the principles of the scientific method—inquiry, observation, data collection, analysis—students are well positioned to become creators and investigators and not just consumers. Students’ educational experiences are enhanced by more specialized elective courses like Anatomy, Environmental Science, Engineering, Programming, Robotics, and Oceanology—advanced courses that will help our students become the problem solvers of tomorrow.
We strive to integrate technology into every aspect of our curriculum, providing students with tangible artifacts of their learning, preparing students for the problems they will face, and introducing them to the methodology they will need in the future.
We strive to integrate technology into every aspect of our curriculum, providing students with tangible artifacts of their learning, preparing students for the problems they will face, and introducing them to the methodology they will need in the future.
To learn more about our current STEM course offerings, choose STEM from the department listing below.
STEM Staffulty
- Cassidy Brown
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James Castañeda
James Castañeda
STEM Teacher, Grade Level Dean
His journey as an educator began as an Exploratory teacher at Sonoma Academy and then as a wrestling coach at Bishop Alemany High School. -
Caitlin Duffy
Caitlin Duffy
STEM Teacher
"I love to look up and see my windows and whiteboards full of figures, all the students working, debating, reasoning, and laughing together." -
Mark Hespenheide
Mark Hespenheide
STEM Teacher -
Rebecca Gordon
Rebecca Gordon
STEM Teacher
Both students and staff are able to have a lot of autonomy. I also really appreciate that I have chances here to show others about what I know, beyond math. -
Amber Greer
Amber Greer
STEM & Visual Arts Teacher
Math and Art are my yin-yang balance. I guess the lesson is that you're allowed to change your mind. My college major and my graduate degree are very different... -
Changa Imara
Changa Imara
STEM Teacher; Tech Help Desk
Changa came to Sonoma Academy after working in programming for years, but teaching wasn’t entirely new to him. -
Alex Kirby
Alex Kirby
Penn Fellow/STEM Teacher -
Sierra LaBarge
Sierra LaBarge
STEM Teacher
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Eric Moes
Eric Moes
STEM & Visual Arts Teacher
“Teaching is the hardest job, but it’s also the most rewarding. It’s 90 percent planning and 100 percent improv!” -
Ramsey Musallam
Ramsey Musallam
STEM Teacher, Director of Summer Programs, Robotics Coach
"I am constantly amazed by how respectful, insightful and curious SA students are in all areas of community life." -
Rose O'Neal
Rose O'Neal
Penn Fellow/STEM Teacher -
Jim Sweeney
Jim Sweeney
STEM Teacher
Jim's Applied Math students do interdisciplinary projects to gain insight into how mathematics affects their everyday lives. -
Lisa Zavieh
Lisa Zavieh, PhD
STEM Dept. Chair & teacher
Lisa’s career has prepared her to teach many things: physics, engineering, mathematics, karate, and figure skating...
Sonoma Academy Is...
...the only private, independent, college preparatory high school in Sonoma County. On our beautiful campus nestled at the base of Taylor Mountain in Southeastern Santa Rosa, our students are able to explore their interests and passions in a rigorous and inspiring environment that develops a lifelong love of learning and prepares them for college and beyond.
Sonoma Academy admits students of any race, color, religion, ethnicity or national origin, citizenship, gender or gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or disability, to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnicity or national origin, citizenship, gender or gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and tuition assistance programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
