Western NC Research Fellows Program

Appalachian GEAR UP has partnered with Society for Science to launch the Western North Carolina Research Fellows Program. This program will build a STEM educator community focused on increasing student pathways to authentic research opportunities among GEAR UP middle schools in western North Carolina. This year-long, cohort-based professional learning model facilitates peer-to-peer collaboration and collective problem solving, while empowering teachers to create effective, engaging STEM learning opportunities tailored to the needs and circumstances of their students.

The program will increase opportunities for students to do authentic STEM research and to participate in science fair in western North Carolina and eventually build a robust and self-sustaining local STEM ecosystem in the region that is tied to and supported by the Society for Science’s national STEM research community.

Eligibility

  • Must be a teacher in a GEAR UP School in one of the following counties in North Carolina: Graham, Clay, Swain, Cherokee Central, Transylvania, Macon, Madison, Polk, McDowell, Catawba, Jackson, Burke
  • Must have interest in enhancing classroom instruction through student-led research
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The Western North Carolina STEM Research Ambassador will be selected from individuals who are well-versed and embedded in the western North Carolina school community and able to assess the needs, preferences, and barriers to engagement of western NC educators. They will also have extensive experience with and knowledge of teaching STEM research design and supporting students in entering science fair competitions. They will provide strategic support in helping teachers augment existing STEM and research curricula with the Society for Science’s STEM outreach programs and student research competitions.

The Western NC Research Ambassador and two Lead Fellows will support two Fellow cohorts of up to twenty western NC teachers in developing programming goals centered around expanding their content knowledge of research and experimental design, developing and implementing authentic research experiences with students, and building infrastructure to provide research opportunities for students in the future. The Ambassador will run a one-day workshop hosted in western North Carolina to launch the program that will be used to establish the Fellow cohorts and set individual goals for each Fellow for the year. Each cohort will be guided by a Lead Fellow who will coordinate logistics and programming for the cohort throughout the year and will in turn be supported by the Ambassador. The Ambassador and Lead Fellows will present about their cohort experience, outcomes and impact at the 2026 Academic Innovation Conference, or other related, local conference.

2025-2026 Western NC Research Fellows

Ambassador: Allyson McFalls, Educator, Boone, NC

Lead Fellows: Christy Arrowood, Educator, Morganton, NC & Gareth Wilkinson, Educator, Franklin, NC

Research Fellows:

  • Kelly DelGatto, Liberty Middle School, Burke County Schools
  • Adam Dibert, Brevard Middle School, Transylvania County Schools
  • Amanda Hall, Cullowhee Valley School, Jackson County Schools
  • Heather Herron, Swain County Middle School, Swain County Middle Schools
  • Susan Higdon, West McDowell Middle School, McDowell County Schools
  • Scarlett Lackey, River Bend Middle School, Catawba County Schools
  • Samantha Langley, River Bend Middle School, Catawba County Schools
  • Kristin Menickelli, Cullowhee Valley School, Jackson County Schools
  • Melissa Painchaud, Arndt Middle School, Catawba County Schools
  • Cristy Price, Madison County Middle School, Madison County Schools
  • Marissa Robinson, East McDowell Middle School, McDowell County Schools
  • Brittany Schiele, Blue Ridge Early College, Jackson County Schools
  • Silvia Sikaffy, Table Rock Middle School, Burke County Schools
  • Michelle Simpson, East McDowell Middle School, McDowell County Schools
  • Raymond Szpara, Macon County Middle School, Macon County Schools
  • Susan Wyatt, Rosman Middle School, Transylvania County Schools
Western North Carolina Research Fellows