Department: Science
Ken Grob
kgrob@sfprep.org9th Grade Biology. Ken began teaching science at outdoor, experiential schools over 25 years ago. He has taught middle and high school science in a Colorado public school, plus American schools in Guatemala and Pakistan, and international schools in Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Tanzania. Ken graduated with a biology degree from the University of Utah and a Master of Science in Environmental Studies from Antioch New England Graduate School. In his free time, Ken enjoys hiking and climbing mountains around the world, skiing fresh powder, eating (and sometimes baking) good food, making the world more sustainable, learning how to grow vegetables in the high desert of New Mexico and traveling /exploring with his family.
Department(s)
Mark Prochaska
mprochaska@sfprep.orgScience Department Chair, Chemistry. Mark holds a bachelor’s degree in physics and a master’s degree in education from The College of William and Mary. He earned a doctorate in applied physics from Cornell University, researching combinatorial chemistry methods for finding new fuel cell catalysts. He taught courses in physics, chemistry, astronomy, science research, and mathematics at schools in Virginia and Indiana before coming to Santa Fe Prep. In his free time, Mark enjoys hiking, camping, reading, making scented candles, and figuring out how to maintain and fix his family’s cars.
Department(s)
Chris Chakeres
cchakeres@sfprep.org7th Grade Science and Upper School Neuroscience. A 1994 graduate of Prep, Chris holds a BS in Psychology from the University of New Mexico and an MA in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University. Chris is in his 21st year at Prep and has previously taught in the Science department: teaching Life Science and Biology for a decade in the mid-2000s. Chris loves teaching science, given its relevance to our lives, and he loves how curious, concerned for our planet, and comical Prep students are! Outside the classroom, Chris and his family explore New Mexico’s wilderness and plan their next travels.
Department(s)
Rebecca Sam
rsam@sfprep.orgMiddle School Science and AP Environmental Science. Rebecca grew up in Northern WI, where her love for all things outdoors was cultivated. She pursued her bachelor’s degree at a small, rural liberal arts college in Iowa, where she earned degrees in Biology and Secondary Education. After teaching and being a mom for several years, Rebecca went back to school at Iowa State University. She earned her Ph.D. in Entomology, Ecology, and Evolutionary Biology. Outside of school, Rebecca enjoys hiking, camping, exploring, reading, and spending time with her family.
Department(s)
Jocelyne Comstock
jcomstock@sfprep.orgUpper School Science. Jocelyne has been teaching middle and high school science for 21 years. She holds a bachelor’s in Natural Sciences from UHH in Hawaii, with a minor in Earth and Space; a master’s level secondary science teaching certificate also from UHH; and a masters in Earth Science from UNC in Colorado. Her research involved describing an extraterrestrial impact structure (crater) located near Peerless, Montana, that formed ~430 mya. Jocelyne has a Level II secondary science teaching license with the state of New Mexico and previously held a professional teaching license in Colorado. Jocelyne teaches 11th-grade Physics in both a regular class format and a more accelerated honors class format. She also teaches an 11th/12th grade elective in Earth Sciences on Natural Disasters and a 12th grade elective in AP Physics 2.