Stem Matrix has been created to provide a hands-on, inquiry-based learning and teaching model for 4th and 5th grade STEM education.
Meet Our Executive Team
Gerry Walanka, Founding Director
Please meet our Stem Matrix Founder and visionary Gerry Walanka. Gerry brings to Stem Matrix his strong passion and commitment to bringing children newer educational tools to more successfully and safely navigate their lives. His belief in how important it is to bring children safe and very caring classroom environments where they can take chances and learn much more about themselves permeates our unique and powerful Stem Matrix settings. Gerry's skill sets have been advised by his strong creative bent and over 30 years of hands-on experience in the fields of law, education, psychology and with private sector start ups.
Brian Klaft, Program Manager
Please meet our Stem Matrix Program Manger, Paul brings our Stem Matrix Team an imaginative science teacher icon with over thirty years of experience in teaching elementary school children in more underserved communities. Paul has made inquiry based, hands-on teaching and learning an art form that he has regularly modeled when training our Stem Matrix Classroom Teams. Paul has for many years regularly contributed to curriculum refinement and to the yearly creation of challenges for our signature end-of-year interschool competition.
Paul Kerman, Program Manager
Please meet our Stem Matrix Program Assistant. Her project management skills along with her can-do attitude will ensure that the program needs are being addressed and met. She brings a strong work ethic and a passion for educating young children in STEM. Sherrie Jo brings over 15 years of event and marketing experience at a Fortune 500 company.
Sherrie Jo Cole, Program Assistant
Please meet our Stem Matrix Program Manger, Brian brings our Stem Matrix Curriculum Team 26 years of science teaching experience with the past 10 years having a STEM focus. A science teacher at Francis Granger middle school in Aurora, IL, Brian has served on the Indian Prairie District's science curriculum team for the past 3 years. Brian brings our team his strong passion for bringing children creative optimum learning opportunities through hands-on, inquiry based challenges that put students in control of the science process.