2024-2025 Teacher Research Fellows Team
Sam Boenker (English)
Elizabeth Colborn (English)
Scott Hawkins (Science)
Nikki Henderson (History)
Caitlin Lynch-Huggins (Theology)
Natalie Partin (Math)
2024-25 Faculty Research Fellows
As pictured: Nikki Henderson, Elizabeth Colborn, Sam Boenker, Caitlin Lynch-Huggins,
Scott Hawkins, Natalie Partin
Sam Boenker (English)
Sam Boenker is in his eighth year teaching at Saint Ignatius. He has a Bachelor's Degree in English with minors in Education and Philosophy from The Ohio State University and a Master's degree in The Teaching of English from Teachers College, Columbia University. Sam teaches Honors English I and English III. His "highlight reel" moments are when he sees his work enabling students to think critically about their lives and the world in addition to learning how to express themselves in the analytical mode. His role as a Research Fellow is important to him because “Feedback is an important element of mindful Ignatian teaching and learning. Productive feedback compels students to examine their life decisions as well as their academic strengths and weaknesses in the way that the Examen and Spiritual Exercises encourage. The research process now compels teachers to engage in this process by receiving feedback on their feedback, encouraging mindful reflection and informing curricular decisions as well the process of giving feedback itself. Hopefully, the work will facilitate more productive and mindful teaching and learning and work towards cura personalis.”
Elizabeth Colborn (English)
Liz Colburn has been teaching for more than 30 years and this is her 11th at Saint Ignatius. She teaches English I and English IV. Liz has presented twice at the annual National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) convention, once as a team member with her Saint Ignatius colleagues. She feels her work as a Research Fellow is important because feedback is an important part of the learning process. “Knowing and understanding the mistakes we make are the first steps in improving in any area. I want my feedback to my students to be as helpful and efficient as possible, so they can become better writers, and I need their feedback to become a better educator.”
Scott Hawkins (Science)
Scott Hawkins has taught Chemistry for 29 years in Catholic schools, 25 of those years at Saint Ignatius. He teaches Honors and Standard Chemistry. He earned his M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction from John Carroll University, and his Teacher Leader endorsement from Concord University. He served on the governing board for the American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AACT) and is currently a District Director for the Science Educators Council of Ohio (SECO) as well as the Strategic Planning Committee for the Division of Chemical Education. He is a member of the Teacher’s Guide Team for the magazine “ChemMatters", where he creates lesson plans for the magazine’s articles. He feels his work as a Research Fellow is important because “Feedback is a topic we as teachers talk a lot about, but really struggle to implement effectively. With this research, I feel that we can get some great data to help us better use feedback in our classrooms, which will improve our students’ learning.”
Nikki Henderson (History)
Nikki Henderson has been teaching at the high school level for fourteen years. She teaches US History and AP World History at Saint Ignatius. She has a Bachelor's degree in History and Secondary Education with a minor in Religious Studies and she is currently working on her Master of Arts in American History and Government. Being a Research Fellow is important to Nikki because “Teaching is an art. It cannot always be quantified. However, the research process is not only an opportunity for seeing blind spots in our approaches to delivering and facilitating learning, but also feeling consoled and affirmed in what classroom operations are working for our students. It is about connection with each other.”
Caitlin Lynch-Huggins (Theology)
Caitlin Lynch-Huggins is in her 20th year of teaching. She teaches Scripture, Christology and Social Justice at Saint Ignatius. Her academic background is in Theology, Gender Studies, and Psychology. She is currently studying Art Education. Her role as a Research Fellow is important to her because “The work we are doing will allow for my students to receive better feedback, for myself to become a more responsive educator, and for others to benefit from the research done this semester.”
Natalie Partin (Math)
Natalie Partin is in her fourth year of teaching at Saint Ignatius. She teaches Geometry, Mathematical Modeling and Honors Algebra 2. She earned her Bachelor's in Integrated Mathematics from Kent State University. Over the past three years, she has piloted and adapted the school’s Mathematical Modeling course, in which students can earn Algebra 2 credit while taking a class involving projects, daily collaboration, and real world applications of every topic. She is Box Office Manager for the Saint Ignatius Harlequins. Being a Research Fellow is important to Natalie because “One of our most important goals as teachers is to improve and better our instructional methods for our students. These methods can include retrieval practice, collaboration skills and strategies, feedback to and from students, and encouraging remediation and mastery among our students. The ability to work with teachers in other disciplines to improve these methods is extremely beneficial, and each teacher walks away with numerous takeaways and strategies for their classroom that they did not have before.”
2023-24 Faculty Research Fellows
As pictured: Guy Savastano, Thomas Yarcusko ’12, Katie Hallal, Kristin Miller, Brandon Foster,
Patrick Gallagher ’04, Gerard Hall, Cindy Reagan, Terra Caputo