It’s time to cast your ballot for the open seats on the NCSSS Board of Directors. Read below for more details and bios of the candidates.

The current Board of Directors is presenting a slate of 10 candidates for your consideration. Applications were reviewed by the Nominating Committee, which also conducted interviews with the applicants. After this vetting, the Nominating Committee recommended the slate to the Board, which agreed with the recommendation for forwarding to Institutional and District Members, per the Bylaws.

Please review the bios of the candidates below that were vetted by the Nominating Committee and recommended by the Board for election. Both candidates are running for three-year terms.

Please vote by Wednesday, July 15!

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Amanda Baskett

Director
Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology – Conyers, GA

Amanda Baskett is the Director of Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology in Conyers, Georgia. She serves as a co-director for the Rockdale Regional Science and Engineering Fair and was a founding teacher for Georgia Tech’s K-12InVenture Prize, now the state qualifier for the National Invention Convention.

She has organized a summer STEAM camp for local 4th-8th graders for the past 15 summers. Her research on computational biology education was published in the journal Science and received the national Inquiry-Based Instruction Prize. She has presented over 50 STEM professional development and leadership concurrent sessions, including at the American Society of Microbiology, National Science Teachers Association, and the National Association for Gifted Children annual meetings. She has been the keynote speaker for events at Georgia Tech and the Yale Center in Beijing, China. She received the 2012 GJSHS Science Teacher of the Year Award and the 2021 GASC Administrator of the Year Award.

Baskett earned a B.S. in Public Policy from Georgia Institute of Technology, a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Texas at Arlington, and an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from Georgia College and State University.

Baskett is running for her second term on the Board of Directors.

Yaara Crane

Assistant Principal for Science and Technology
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Yaara Crane offers 20 years of transformative leadership dedicated to pioneering STEM innovation and systemic excellence within Fairfax County Public Schools.

Currently serving as the Assistant Principal for Science and Technology at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Crane oversees advanced STEM curricula, directs specialized research facilities, and cultivates strategic partnerships.

Her extensive background spans the entire K-12 STEM ecosystem; a professional journey that began in the chemistry classroom, grew into leading district-wide instructional initiatives, and has come full circle in her return to school-based leadership. A proven governance voice, she previously directed Virginia’s largest Regional Science and Engineering Fair and served on the Board of Directors as Vice-President for the Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair.

Crane champions an inquiry-based, data-driven framework that bridges classroom practice with national standards to cultivate the next generation of scientific innovators.

This would be her first term on the Board of Directors.

Stacia Crescenzi

Principal 
The Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA) High School

Stacia Crescenzi is currently the principal of The Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA) High School. Crescenzi’s path to the principalship was unconventional. It started with an over two-year tour as a Peace Corps teacher trainer volunteer in Bushenyi District, Uganda. Crescenzi then detoured to work as the Director of Children’s Therapy for a shelter that welcomed families experiencing domestic abuse. She also taught adjunct psychology and social work classes at the collegiate level in both Gallup, New Mexico, and the Rio Grande Valley, Texas.

 

Crescenzi’s career in Austin ISD began when she transitioned from teaching collegiate psychology to middle school science and language arts. In her fourth year, Crescenzi was named AISD’s Teacher of the Year. Wanting to make a greater systemic impact on the lives of students, Crescenzi moved to high school administration. After six years as an Assistant Principal and Academy Director at Lanier High School, she found herself preoccupied with the idea of intellectually challenging the students whom the system would suggest were doing “fine” academically. When given the opportunity to lead LASA High School, the academic magnet for AISD, she jumped at the chance. Over a decade later, she is still intrigued with the constantly changing academic landscape and the challenge of providing a rigorous high school experience that balances the socio-emotional needs of students as they move through adolescence.

Crescenzi has a BS in Psychology and a BS in Rehabilitative Services Education from The Pennsylvania State University. She has a MA in Counseling Psychology and an MS in Education and Social Policy from Northwestern University. She also has a MEd in Education Administration from The University of Texas at Austin.

Crescenzi is running for her second term on the Board of Directors.

Dr. Mitch Frye

Academic Dean
Alabama School of Mathematics and Science

Dr. Mitch Frye is the Academic Dean for the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science, where he previously taught English and served on the Board of Directors. He keeps an eye out for underprivileged kids and those with learning deficits from their home schools, because he remembers what it was like.

Dr. Frye hails from the tiny town of Aynor, SC, and attended the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics. In college, he combined his STEM interests with his humanities strengths and researched science fiction and comics studies. He went on to earn a doctorate in English from Louisiana State University.

He is an active literary scholar whose essays have appeared in Critique, Nabokov Studies, The Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts, and other venues. At ASMS, he teaches a few classes each year to ensure that the policies he has imposed on others are not too onerous.

Dr. Frye is running for his second term on the Board of Directors.

Josh Hunter

Senior Administrator for STEM Magnet Curriculum Support & Outreach
Wake County Public School System
 

Josh Hunter’s professional journey began in 2002, encompassing roles from teaching high school science to middle school language arts, math, science, and social studies, including serving as a district-level Instructional Technology Facilitator and Literacy Coach. Presently, he is the Senior Administrator for STEM Magnet Curriculum Support & Outreach in the Wake County Public School System.

Driven by a passion for STEM education, curriculum support/development, and magnet schools, Josh has made notable contributions at district, state, and national levels. He is actively involved with organizations like NSTA, NCSTA, ISTE, MSA, and the WCPSS K-12 Science Core Leadership Team, facilitating the district’s STEM Teacher Leadership Team and serving as an NC STEM School reviewer. Josh supports schools with navigating the Magnet Certification and STEM school processes.

Hunter holds bachelor’s degrees in Biology/Chemistry and master’s degrees in Curriculum/Instruction from Marshall University and Instructional Technology, and School Administration from the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

Hunter is running for his first term on the Board of Directors.

Amie Karkainen

Principal
Nikola Tesla STEM High School

Amie Karkainen is the Principal of Nikola Tesla STEM High School in Redmond, Washington. She leads an innovative and collaborative learning community that values authentic research, problem-based learning, and engagement with industry professionals, inspiring scholars to think critically, collaborate across disciplines, and tackle global challenges.

Karkainen brings extensive leadership experience at the secondary level, along with a background as a high school math teacher. She is committed to ensuring all students have access to meaningful opportunities to integrate STEM within all content areas, promote sustainability, and apply rigorous academic concepts as they pursue viable solutions for a rapidly changing world.

Randy LaCross

Sr. Vice President for Outreach and Global Initiatives
South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics

Randy LaCross currently serves as the Vice President for Outreach at the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM), where is responsible for leading a team of STEM educators who are responsible for developing and delivering STEM educational experiences for 3rd– 10th grade students and teachers across South Carolina. The team directly serves over 12,000 students and teachers annually through its school year and summer programs. LaCross is also responsible for collaborating with the GSSM Leadership Team, the GSSM Foundation team, GSSM faculty and staff, and organizations across the state to build STEM educational partnerships that improve access to high-quality learning experiences and improve STEM learning.

Prior to summer 2025, LaCross served as Senior VP for Outreach and Global Initiatives, Senior VP for Virtual and Outreach, VP for Outreach and Research, and a Curriculum and Instruction and Development Specialist. In these roles, he provided oversight of the school’s virtual Accelerate engineering program, the GSSM student research program, and he developed STEM educational programs and partnership. As VP for Outreach and Research, he interacted with researchers throughout South Carolina and worked with them to provide summer research experiences for GSSM students. During this time, LaCross was part of a team that developed an international student research partnership with a school in Pforzheim, Germany. This partnership provided the foundation for building similar partnerships with another school in Germany and schools in South Korea and China.

During his 35-plus years as a science educator in South Carolina, LaCross has developed curricula, created science education outreach programs, served on numerous state and national committees, served as a science teacher consultant, conducted presentations at state and national science conferences, and taught at the high school and university levels.

His educational background includes completing all the graduate courses in a secondary science education Ph.D. program at University of South Carolina, and M.Ed. in Secondary Science from Francis Marion University, and a B.S. in Biology from Francis Marion University.

LaCross is running for his second term on the Board of Directors.

Rheo Morris

Dean of Students
Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts (ASMSA)

Rheo Morris, Ph.D., serves as the Dean of Students at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts (ASMSA). In her role, she oversees the residential aspects of the program that includes the residence hall, dining services, security, the nurse, and the Licensed Professional Counselor and Master’s Social Worker. Prior to her role at ASMSA, she had the opportunity to serve in various roles within Residence Life at the University level for 17 years. Rheo is a staunch advocate for students’ growth and development through educational outcomes. She believes that teaching doesn’t only happen in the classroom. Instead, she knows that opportunities for teaching and development exist everywhere, and it is her responsibility to seize these moments and promote positive interactions.

Morris holds a BSBA in Finance and MIS, a MS. Ed. in Counseling Personnel Services, and a Ph.D in Higher Education Administration with an emphasis in Statistical Research.

Morris is deeply rooted within her community and volunteers in various civic, social, and nonprofit organizations. She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated and the Oaklawn Rotary. She currently serves as the Education Chair and Scholarship Co- chair of Garland County Junior Auxiliary, Curriculum Chair and board member of Leadership Hot Springs, and as the assistant church clerk and Youth Director of Roanoke Baptist Church.

Morris and her husband, Craig, have one daughter, Rhyleigh. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, crafting, and traveling.

Morris is running for her first term on the Board of Directors.

Kenan Sener

Executive Director
Fulton Science Academy Private School

Dr. Kenan Sener is the Executive Director of Strategic Growth and Global Affairs at Fulton Science Academy in Alpharetta, Georgia, and the CEO of ServePremier Education, a nonprofit subsidiary of Fulton Science Academy. ServePremier provides school management and educational services worldwide, drawing upon the proven success and innovative practices of the Fulton Science Academy model.

Dr. Sener brings more than 25 years of experience in K–12 and higher education as both a teacher and school administrator in public and private school settings. In addition to his leadership roles, he serves as an adjunct faculty member at Austin Peay State University, where he teaches educational leadership courses for aspiring school principals.

Dr. Sener holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Johns Hopkins University, with a focus on technology integration and character education. Throughout his career, his work has been recognized with honors including the Value Driven Educator Award, two National Blue Ribbon School Awards, the National School of Character designation, the STEM Education Award, the Spirit of Discovery and Imagination Award, and the Best Boss Award in North Atlanta.

Committed to advancing education beyond his own school community, Dr. Sener serves on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Independent School Association and is a member of the Leadership Atlanta.

Outside of his professional responsibilities, Dr. Sener enjoys family life in the Atlanta area with his wife, three children, and two cats.

Dr. Sener is seeking his second term on the Board of Directors.

Tameka Whitney

Principal
Dallas Environmental Science Academy Middle School

Tameka Whitney is an accomplished educational leader serving as Principal of Dallas Environmental Science Academy, a STEM-focused magnet middle school within Dallas Independent School District. She was selected as a Dallas ISD Master Principal for the 2024–2025 school year and was named a Dallas ISD Principal of the Year Finalist for Magnet/Choice Schools in 2023–2024. With 21 years of experience in education spanning classroom instruction and campus leadership, she has dedicated her career to improving student outcomes and expanding access to transformative educational opportunities.

A passionate advocate for STEM education, Whitney has led initiatives that integrate project-based learning, environmental science, technology, and real-world problem solving into middle school learning environments. Under her leadership, students engage in rigorous, inquiry-based experiences that foster critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and innovation. She has championed the development of future-ready learning opportunities that empower students to apply STEM knowledge to authentic challenges while cultivating a lifelong passion for discovery and learning.

Whitney is committed to advancing equity in STEM by ensuring that students from all backgrounds have access to rigorous, engaging, and future-focused learning experiences. She regularly collaborates with educators and leaders to share best practices, support school improvement efforts, and promote innovative approaches to teaching and learning.

Whitney brings a strong record of instructional leadership, systems thinking, and collaborative problem solving. She is dedicated to advancing excellence, innovation, and equitable access in STEM education while supporting the development of future-ready learners equipped to thrive in an ever-evolving world.