From June 8-9, 2026, 20 Florida elementary school teachers came together to kick off our professional development program titled, “Polyploidy Integration and Innovation.”
On June 8-9, 2026, SEFS hosted a two-day workshop on polyploidy, a fascinating topic that connects genetics, evolution, and ecology. Polyploidy (genome doubling) is common in many living things, including plants and animals. Understanding polyploidy helps with the creation of sustainable products like biofuels, food, and fiber. Polyploidy even plays an important role in human health! This year’s workshop, funded by the National Science Foundation, marked the first of four teacher cohorts. Twenty middle and high school teachers learned directly from scientists about polyploidy and its applications in topics like plant pathology, cancer research, and more. They also conducted hands-on lab activities, such as a chromosome squash to observe plant chromosomes under the microscope, and worked with the scientists to co-create polyploidy lessons for their classrooms.
2026-27 Cohort
This is the first of four Polyploidy annual cohorts.
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William Bartenslager Palm Beach Central High School |
Caleb Bockoras North Elementary School |
Karyn Daniel Sebastian River High School |
Haley Deal Kaplan Vero Beach High School |
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Chase Enloe-Petrik Wiregrass Ranch High School |
Pari Giraddi Taylor County Middle School
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Edny Martinez West Glades School |
Victoria Pease Lincoln Park Academy |
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Jacqueline Peter John E Ford PK-8 |
Jennifer Petro LA Ainger Middle School |
Wanda Rosario Northeast High School |
Milagro Ruiz Clewiston Middle School |
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Virginia Rushing East Bay K-8 |
Elizabeth Searl Duncan U Fletcher High School |
Holly Shema Abraham Lincoln Middle School |
Rhonda Steinmetz Bak Middle School of the Arts |
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Samantha Szentmartoni Okeechobee High School |
Jose Valdes Forest High School |
Ryan Wolf Santa Fe High School |
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Cohort I Learning Goals and Benefits:
At the end of this program, participants:
- Learned about polyploidy and its impact on everything from tiny cells to whole ecosystems.
- Developed new skills in data science, teamwork, and scientific communication.
- Connected with other educators and scientists and explored career development opportunities.
- Gained new insights and resources to make science exciting and relevant for your students.
- Received a $400 stipend upon successful completion of the PD.
Instructors
- Dr. Pamela Soltis, Distinguished Professor and Curator, Director of the UF Biodiversity Institute
- Dr. Doug Soltis, Distinguished Professor, Florida Museum of Natural History
- David Jennings, Project Manager, Polyploidy Integration Institute
- Dr. David Miller, Program Evaluator, UF College of Education
- Stephanie Killingsworth, K-12 Education and Outreach Coordinator, Scientist in Every Florida School
Funding Sources
