Dr. Lisa Kelp
Chief Academic Officer
Lisa has taught middle and high school science in Kentucky, Ohio, and Michigan and began her SEPUP journey with the original physical science program, Issues, Evidence, and You. Over the years, she taught all disciplines within Issues and Science and led her first teacher training in 1999, supporting educators through grant-funded workshops.
That early work grew into nationwide training and presentations at state and national conferences. For the past 14 years, Lisa has served at Lab-Aids, leading Professional Learning and Product Management. She now serves as Chief Academic Officer, overseeing all Lab-Aids curriculum and academic initiatives.
Lisa lives in Michigan with her husband and two daughters, Annie and Gracie, and is a lifelong Cincinnati Bengals fan.
Lisa Wissert
Education and Curriculum Specialist
Lisa taught middle school science in Chicago for 15 years before joining Lab-Aids. She began teaching Issues and Science in 2009 and quickly embraced the curriculum for its authentic, inquiry-based approach that helped students see the relevance of science in their everyday lives.
Driven to share her passion for science education, Lisa served on a team that delivered Issues and Science professional development to teachers across Chicago.
Hethyr Kreger
Director of Publications
Hethyr, Director of Publications at Lab-Aids, began using Lab-Aids in her 7th-grade science classroom in 2003 and quickly connected with SEPUP’s design philosophy and its ability to deeply engage students. Her passion led her to become a district and national trainer, eventually developing and leading a team of more than 25 Chicago-based SEPUP trainers.
To expand access to high-quality science instruction, Hethyr spent eight years as an Instructional Science Coach at Loyola University Chicago, where she earned her M.Ed. in Science Education. In this role, she coached middle school teachers and administrators on effective implementation and supported K–12 educators in transitioning to the NGSS through professional learning, PLCs, and strategic coaching.
Hethyr joined Lab-Aids in 2015 as Middle School Product Manager and now serves as Director of Publications, overseeing the development and enhancement of Lab-Aids’ middle and high school programs, including publications, digital tools, and equipment. She is a trusted, hands-on resource for teachers implementing Lab-Aids curriculum.
Stephanie Wallace
National Sales Manager
Stephanie taught middle school science in Massachusetts before joining Lab-Aids in 2016. She began as the Northeast sales representative and now supports the sales team and educators nationwide.
Passionate about science and science education, Stephanie loves connecting with teachers to share ideas and resources that support effective classroom instruction.
Vaughn Smith
Teacher and Trainer
Vaughn Smith is an experienced middle school science teacher who dedicated 26 years to the classroom, specializing in Environmental Science.
Passionate about engaging students, he is a three-time nominee for Michigan Teacher of the Year and a national recipient of the Chevrolet Green Educator Award for innovative environmental science instruction.
Vaughn lives in Michigan and enjoys exploring the outdoors with his wife and two teenage sons.
Dr. Ben Koo
Director of SEPUP, UC Berkeley
Ben is the Director of SEPUP at the UC Berkeley Lawrence Hall of Science. He began his career teaching middle school science in Oakland, California, in 2007, and later worked at the University of California, San Francisco, where he led and supported research on science education programs.
Ben joined SEPUP in 2019 and is passionate about developing creative, engaging, and culturally relevant science curriculum that empowers students and their communities.
Ed Miller
Teacher and Trainer
Ed Miller is a middle school science teacher whose classroom came alive after adopting the SEPUP curriculum in 2020.
With students more engaged, asking deeper questions, and thinking like scientists, the impact was immediate.
Inspired by this transformation, Ed became a SEPUP trainer and now helps teachers and districts bring that same level of inquiry and excitement to their science classrooms.
Dr. Rachel Fisher
Research and Assessment Specialist
Rachel Fisher has been a Research and Assessment Specialist with the SEPUP team since January 2024.
Prior to joining SEPUP, she worked in the research, development, and management of NGSS-aligned curriculum and assessment products, primarily in the educational technology space.
Rachel also taught middle school, high school, and college biology after transitioning from a career as a marine and molecular biologist. She holds a PhD in Science Education, with research focused on the teaching of evolution.
Misty Richmond
James Ward, Chicago Public Schools
As a Chicago Public Schools middle school teacher, Misty field-tested the third edition Fields and Interactions unit with an academically and culturally diverse student population. She later served as a CPS Middle School Science Specialist, supporting teachers and administrators through SEPUP curriculum pilots, field tests, and professional development focused on three-dimensional science learning.
Misty was named a 2019 Illinois State Finalist for the President’s Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching and has provided professional development for SEPUP and other Lawrence Hall of Science–developed curricula for more than 12 years.
