Instructor-Biographies

=Meet the 2010 GVA Startalk Instructors:=

//Yuqing Hong – Language Coordinator //  Yuqing Hong currently serves as a senior ELL Curriculum and Professional Development Specialist in the New York Department of Education, Office of English Language Learners.Ms. Hong was a Reading First Coordinator in Region 10, ELL Instructional Specialist in Region 7 and has taught all grade levels.She has 20 years of experience in administration, curriculum writing, professional development and teaching.She has supported and assisted New York schools to achieve high standards.

//Pat Lo – Professor, New York University //  Pat Lo is the Director for the Asian Languages Bilingual/ESL Technical Assistance Center at the New York University-Metro Center (ALBETAC).ALBETAC provides technical assistance and professional development to educators and administrators in order to facilitate high quality instruction and support services to English language learners (ELL) from Asian language backgrounds.ALBETAC also works with educational leaders in communities from these language backgrounds to provide adequate support to parents of ELL students.Services are offered to all New York City and New York State schools and school districts. Pat Lo is nationally recognized as a professional developer, speaker, and consultant on developing Asian language programs.

//Myles McNicholas – Math and Science Instructor, Global Village Academy //  Myles McNicholas has been in the field of education for 39 years.He taught in Denver Public Schools for 34 years and in Aurora Public Schools for the last 5 years.For the majority of his 39 years of teaching, Mr. McNicholas taught a multi-age class of 4th and 5th graders at Lincoln Elementary School.At Global Village Academy, Mr. McNicholas has been the Language Arts Teacher for the 5th and 6th grades in the Mandarin Village and Math and Science for the 7th grade.Mr. McNicholas is Global Village Academy’s math coach and a member of the administration team.He was born and raised in Oregon and spent his college years in California.

//Collin Sasaki – CEO, Science Matters //  Collin Sasaki is the President/CEO of Science Matters in Colorado.Through Science Matters, he provides hands on science programs to more than 17,000 students per year through science clubs, demonstrations and camps.He has a unique background in organizational development and training.In this capacity he has worked with several Fortune 500 companies including Qwest, Pfizer and Warner Lambert.Five years ago Mr. Sasaki took over the reins at Science Matters to help improve science education for Colorado students.He believes that children learn by doing…..just like adult learners.He lives in Littleton, Colorado with his wife of 19 years and their three children.