Instructor Bios

Zelia is a chemistry and Advanced Placement Chemistry (AP Chem) teacher at John D. O’Bryant School of Math and Science. After working in public health at the City of Boston for several years she discovered that she is passionate about teaching young adults so she decided to go into teaching. She has been teaching chemistry for the past 13 years in the Boston area. Zelia received her BS in Biochemistry from the University of Massachusetts – Boston and her Doctor of Pharmacy from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) University. In her free time she loves sports, is an avid swimmer, loves traveling to warmer climates and the outdoors.

Nicole Hemlin graduated from Assumption College in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and started teaching at Gardner High School in the fall of 2002. After 10 years, she went to teach at her alma mater, Narragansett Regional High School in Baldwinville, MA. In 2014, Nicole earned my Master of Education in Curriculum and Teaching from Fitchburg State University. It was when she was teaching AP Calculus in 2013 at Narragansett that she first became a part of the Mass Insight experience. In June of 2016, John Souther convinced her to be the Route 2 Lead Teacher, a position she has held ever since. In 2023, Nicole was the recipient of the Lawrie A. Bertram award from Mass Insight. In her years at Narragansett she has served as a class advisor and the Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society) advisor.  From 2017 to the present, she has been the Mathematics Teacher Leader (grades 8-12) at Narragansett. Nicole will finish her 22nd  year of teaching this June. Nicole lives in Baldwinville with her husband Scott, and two children, Madyson (17) and Landyn (14).

Isaiah Houtman is the AP Computer Science Content Director for Mass Insight Education & Research (MI), a Massachusetts based, non-profit organization that provides opportunities for schools to increase enrollment and success of systemically marginalized students and students of color in their AP STEM and English Programs. Simultaneously, Isaiah has more than 20 years of experience successfully teaching AP Computer Science A (AP CS A) and AP Computer Science Principle (APCSP) at New Bedford High School (NBHS), an extremely diverse and impoverished urban school district in New Bedford, MA.

Isaiah is an extremely experienced secondary educator having taught more than a dozen different math and CS courses at all levels from remedial Algebra 1 to AP CS A. He continually adjusts his approach to teaching and learning to reflect the changing times and needs of his students. In his current role with MI, Isaiah collaborates with more than fifty AP CS teachers, from across Massachusetts, providing one-on-one supports, teaching strategies, lesson plans, and curriculum updates.

Isaiah has presented at local and statewide professional development meetings with a focus on computer science pedagogy, improving equity and access in AP CS courses, and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve teaching and learning. He was a member of MI’s AP Action Community that assisted in the development of the AP Equity Building Tools to help AP programs address the needs of historically underserved students including Black and Latino students and those experiencing poverty stay on track and find success in AP courses. Isaiah has also served on multiple Superintendent Search Committees and has served on the Board of Directors for the Dennison Memorial Community Center in New Bedford, MA since 2015. He is a respected member of his community, earning multiple community service awards including the Cape Verdean Vets Civics Award, Sgt. Carney Academy Community Service Brotherhood award, and most recently the 2024 Mass Insight Partners in Excellence Award for Computer Science.

Isaiah holds a B.A. in Mathematics with a concentration in Computer Science from The College of the Holy Cross, a post-baccalaureate Degree in Education from the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, and a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Endicott College. His dedication to teaching has earned him MI’s 2024 Partners In Excellence Award for Computer Science.

Kathleen teaches AP English Language and Composition and AP English Literature and Composition in an urban Connecticut high school, where she has worked since earning her Ph.D at the University of Connecticut in 2006. She has been an AP reader since 2012 and enjoys working with teachers and students in programs focused on improving educational outcomes for students.

Ivyrose Likis is a Biology and AP Biology Teacher at John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science. She has been teaching for the past 13 years in Boston Public Schools. Ivyrose’s teaching career started at the Jeremiah E. Burke High School when the school was placed in Turnaround status. Four years later the Burke became the first high school in Massachusetts to successfully exit Turnaround status. Later in her career, Ivyrose became a Wipro Science Education Fellow through UMass Boston. During Ivyrose’s second year in the fellowship she investigated ways to increase student engagement and achievement in AP Biology through the use of manipulatives, projects, labs, and scenario-based activities. Ivyrose received her BS in Biology from Alma College in Michigan and earned her masters through the Boston Teacher Residency. In her free time Ivyrose enjoys traveling, camping, hiking, reading and spending time with her family.

Jayson has taught AP Calculus at West Bridgewater Middle/Senior High for over 20 years. He has also served the WB student population for many years as an advisor both for the Math Club and the National Honor Society. He graduated from Stonehill College in 1997 with a BS in Mathematics/Computer Science with a minor in Secondary Education.