Hello! My name is Ella Miesner and I am excited joining the RET program this summer to practice some hands-on, bench side laboratory research! I returned to Austin this spring to teach 9th grade physics at the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, where I had served from 2012 – 2018 teaching 8th grade science and high school Biomedical Innovations.
I earned my National Board Certification in Early Adolescent science and received a Master’s in STEM education during my previous tenure at Ann Richards before departing in 2018 to pursue graduate studies in Educational Psychology full time at the University of Texas at Austin. I studied the importance of student-teacher relationships in the development and maintenance of interest in STEM fields and also researched and taught effective learning strategies in the undergraduate course “Strategic Learning for the 21st Century.” I completed my doctorate in 2021 and moved to Houston to be near my sister and baby nephew.
I love science and engineering and am thrilled to be able to apply my knowledge and experience from my undergraduate education in Mechanical Engineering and Plan II Liberal arts to help the Ann Richards Stars make connections between our science projects in RET at UT and their everyday lives. In my time outside of school I also enjoy reading, being outdoors, gardening, playing the harp, and attempting DIY home repair projects with varying degrees of success. I know it can be hard to transition between teachers in the middle of the school year and I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to join you. Please feel free to email me at emiesner@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like to share anything you think it would be helpful for me to know to prepare for our few weeks of learning and discovery.