Channa Comer

AEF Fellow 2016-17

Channa Comer

Fellowship Placement: U.S. Department of Energy
Hometown: Bronx, NY

Channa Comer is the Lower School Science and Engineering Coach at All Saints Academy (ASA), an Episcopalian independent school in Winter Haven, Florida. The position is newly created, reflecting a desire in the community for a robust early grades STEM program that prepares students for the rigor of the upper school. ASA is part of the NuVu Studio school network, an innovative STEM program developed by MIT graduates and based on the architectural design studio model. In her new role, Channa works with the lower school faculty to incorporate rigorous STEM content and process into their curriculum and provides STEM-related professional development.

Channa came to her Einstein Fellowship appointment as a middle school science teacher at Baychester Middle School, located in the Bronx, New York and served her Fellowship in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science. Prior to the fellowship, Channa had nine years of experience as a formal classroom educator at the middle and high school levels. In addition to her classroom experience, Channa has served as science department chair, founder and director of the Baychester Science and Engineering Club, and Curriculum Specialist for the SONYC Baychester after school program. Channa has also provided professional development for other educators through her role as a Math for America Master Teacher, a Master Fellow with the Sci-Ed Innovators fellowship program, as an adjunct for Bank Street Teaching College, and as a mentor with the New York City Teaching Fellows Apprentice Program. Channa received her Master of Science Education degree from City College in New York City.

Known for her engaging and innovative curriculum, Channa has been featured on local and national television, in the book, Teach Like A Champion 2.0: 62 Techniques that Put Students on the Path to College, by Doug Lemov, in Quanta Magazine, Wired Magazine and on the Teaching Channel. She has presented at national conferences including the 2013 National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Conference and is in the process of completing her first science book for children with DK Publishing of London.