Advancing STEM Researching Teaching (ASRT)
ASRT Program Director
Michael Blueglass recently retired from being a high school science teacher with more than 35-years of teaching experience, most recently at Yorktown High School in Westchester County, NY where he taught from 2001 to 2020.
Michael founded and directed Yorktown HS’s Science Research program and has grown it into one of the largest and most successful of its kind in the NY tri-state area.
In 2001, Michael co-founded the Westchester Science and Engineering Fair (WESEF), providing his students and others in the area with a venue to showcase their science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) research and the opportunity to interact with local STEM professionals, while providing the chance to win awards and compete at the national and international levels.
WESEF started with 59 students from 12 local schools, and 20 years later he and a team of local science education champions have built WESEF into the largest science fair in the region, and one of the largest in the nation, with approximately 700 high school students from 45 regional high schools.
Over the past decade, Michael has also served as an adjunct college professor and science research consultant, sharing his science research program experiences and lessons learned with teachers, mentors, students and parents across the country.
As a Science Research (STEM) Consultant, he has worked with numerous high school teachers in a one-on-one or small group format, to help them create and/or strengthen their program as well as to help them address any challenges that arise along the way. Whether teachers already had a pre-established Science Research class/club or they had their students carry out projects as a part of their typical curriculum, each workshop has been customized to help them reach their specific goals and overcome any obstacles.
He has worked with science/STEM teachers from the Westchester and Putnam County regions in New York at numerous high schools including; Ardsley, Edgemont (Scarsdale), Harrison, Hastings, Horrace Greeley (Chappaqua), Iona Prep., Irvington, Lakeland/Walter Panas, New Rochelle, North Salem, Peekskill, Pleasantville, Putnam Valley, Rye,
Sacred Heart Academy, Tappan Zee (Orangeburg) and Valhalla.
There has been a growing interest in building/increasing science/STEM research opportunities for high school students. In response to this, Michael started the Advancing Science/STEM Research Teaching Program (ASRT) and has worked with the teachers at high schools in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Michael has a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Science Education from the University of Georgia, a Master of Education from the University of Bridgeport and a Master of School Administration from Fordham University.
He lives in Westchester County, NY with his wife, who was also an educator.