Mark Krotec
Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School

Mark Krotec of Pittsburgh Central Catholic served as the first and is an ongoing participant in PTEI's Teacher Education Program. Since beginning in June of 2000, he has developed the initial education outreach manual titled “An Education Outreach Manual In Tissue Engineering.” This curriculum activity outreach manual is meant to serve as a basic introduction to the concepts and potentials of TE. The manual contains an ample introduction to the field of TE and the role of the PTEI, as well as a list of references, suggested teacher demonstrations, a glossary, and a student assessment section. Most importantly, inquiry-based activities are offered, focusing on the interdisciplinary nature of bone engineering. The majority of the activities are laboratory-based, emphasizing inquiry learning and science process skills, strongly reflecting and adhering to suggested NSES and NSTA standards. The exercises are flexible enough to be adapted for students of middle school or senior high school, and may even serve as a source of ideas for student independent research. Teachers are encouraged to utilize or modify the exercises as they see fit, and to take advantage of the educational programs and website information provided by PTEI.

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Barbara Eisel
Bethel Park High School

Barbara Eisel of Bethel Park High School was the second teacher participant to the program, during the summer of 2001. Barbara focused on the development of the sections focused on immunology and inflammation in collaboration with the initial teacher participant, Mark Krotec, and two university professors, Joseph Ahearn, MD, Arthritis Institute, University of Pittsburgh, and Phil Campbell, PhD, Carnegie Mellon University, Bone Tissue Engineering Laboratory.

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Vincent Vernacchio
Science Resource teacher, Pittsburgh Public Schools

Vincent Vernacchio, a Secondary Science Resource Teacher with the Pittsburgh Public Schools was our third “master” teacher participant. Vince focused on the development of sections focused on muscle TE, stem cells, and bioethics. He worked in collaboration with the initial teacher participant, Mark Krotec, and with university professor, Johnny Huard, PhD, Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine.

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Joseph Krajkovic
Biology teacher, Sto Rox High School

Joseph Krajacovic a biology teacher at Sto Rox High School participated in the program during the summers of 2004 - 2006. Prior to his appointment at Sto Rox High School, Joseph was a middle school science teacher at Clairton Middle School. As the fourth teacher participant, Joseph focused on assisting Mark Krotec in providing Act 48, intensive professional development workshops to teachers throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. Building on his experience with middle school science educators and students needs, Joseph contributed to the development and implementation of a Tissue Engineering Summer Camp for Middle School students. In addition to working toward developing and implementing the summer camp experience. Joseph also contributed to the development of the Tissue Engineering Summer Camp on a Disc.

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Jennifer Renee Ferencak-Copeland
Biology teacher, Freeport High School

Our most recent participant, Ms. Jennifer Renee Ferencak-Copeland, a biology teacher at Freeport High School participated in the program during the summer. In collaboration with Mr. Krotec and Krajkovic, Jennifer focused on the challenges of Cardiovascular tissue engineering. She worked in collaboration with senior, master teachers Mark Krotec and Joseph Krajcovic and with university professors, Drs. Stephen Badylak, William Wagner, and David Vorp, of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine.