ARRL

Meet Our Instructors

Our ETP Instructors

  • Mark Spencer, WA8SME

    Mark Spencer, WA8SME, has been and ham radio operator for over 47 years and has also held the calls G5EPV, DA1OY, and HL9AW. Originally from the Detroit Michigan area, Mark entered education as a IMG_4021__2__MS_w_optascope.JPGsecond career following a 20 year career as an Air Force Officer flying T-38, B-52, U-2, and TR-1 aircraft. He has degrees in Metallurgical Engineering and Communications. His education career spans high school Mathematics and Physics, Chemistry, and Computer Programming teacher; K-12 school principal, and college professor of communications, public speaking, and metallurgical engineering. During a recent short sabbatical, Mark worked as an engineer for a small firm that did rapid prototype development of un-manned surface and subsurface vehicles for the Office of Naval Research.   He is currently the ARRL’s Education and Technology Program (ETP) Director. His primary ETP responsibilities include developing curriculum leading toward wireless technology literacy, providing assistance to teachers implementing ham radio and related content in their school’s curriculum, managing the ham radio equipment grant program for schools, and instructing teachers in wireless technology literacy during the Teachers Institutes. Along with being the lead instructor for the Teachers Institutes he is responsible for the development and maintenance of the on-going Teachers Institute curriculum as well as developing new curriculum based on need.   This year’s Teachers Institutes include the Basic TI, as well as the TI-2 Space. A new TI-2 Remote Sensing is being developed and planned that focuses on research sensor packages that schools can deploy on high altitude balloons or in water-borne buoys to learn about and perform environmental research facilitated by Amateur Radio that provides data links between the classroom and the remote sensors.   His most recent articles published in various ham radio journals and magazines include CubeSat Simulator, Digital Wattmeter Element for the Bird Model 43, Touch Paddle Keyer, Fox Hunting Transmitter, Sudden Ionospheric Disturbance (SID) Monitor Interface, UHF Data Link Transceiver, and Homebrew Radio Telescope…explore the basics of radio astronomy, ETP Space/Sea Buoy, Amateur Radio – Gateway to Discovery (awaiting publication), and SSTVCAM PIC Interface (awaiting publication). He also has published an instructional manual PIC® Microcontroller Programming for the Beginner. Mark’s current ham radio interests include ham satellites and adapting microcontroller technology to ham radio and implementing this technology in the classroom

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  • Nathan McCray, K9CPO

    Contact___CantWipeSmileOffMyFace.JPGNathan McCray, K9CPO, is currently the ARRL Education & Technology Program Coordinator. He is a former sixth grade teacher who moved on to be an assistant principal at West Elementary School in Zion in Lake County, Illinois. He is currently serving his first year as the Principal of Edward Bain School of Language and Art in Kenosha, Wisconsin. As a teacher, Nathan integrated Amateur Radio, electronics and robotics into his science and math curriculum. He plans to start an Amateur Radio club in his new school and is looking forward to developing clubs in his district's junior high and high schools. His knowledge areas include electronics, computer programming, communications, Amateur Radio, computer systems, leadership and teaching. Nathan’s background includes instruction at the community college level, as well experience as a senior instructor at a US Navy technical school. He has been licensed for over 25 years and holds an Amateur Extra class license.

  • Matt Severin, N8MS

    Matt Severin, N8MS,  is the co-principal at Dowagiac Middle School in Dowagiac, Michigan serving over 550 students in grades 6th through 8th. Matt has incorporated amateur radio into his classroom since 1999 when he first earned his amateur radio license. He has worked with students ranging from grade 3 to 12 and has found SeverinN8MS.jpgways to integrate amateur radio at all levels. Some of Matt’s previous activities include participating in the School Club Round Up, starting a radio youth club, and monitoring & collecting data from amateur radio satellites & weather satellites. He has also helped 15 students to make impromptu International Space Station contacts from school. Currently Matt is working with middle school students as they learn how to program micro controllers in preparation for a high altitude balloon launch. Matt has been licensed for 12 years and holds an Amateur Extra license.

  • Tommy Gober, N5DUX

     

    Tommy Gober, N5DUX, holds an Amateur Extra license, is currently the Instructional Technologist at LeTourneau University in Longview, TX, and has taught high school Computer Science, Programming and other Technology classes. Tommy has a passion for instruction and having an impact on the classroom.He began his interest in MrGober.jpgamateur radio while in grade school, but it was not until college that he got his license. Tommy has been an ARRL registered instructor and VE for several years, leading dozens of people toward their licenses. He joined the ARRL ETP team bringing with him his love of electronics, computer programming, amateur radio, communications and passion for both teaching and learning. He enjoys CW, satellites, HF, kit building and portable operations. In addition to his personal enjoyment of ham radio, Tommy also serves as a sponsor for the LeTourneau University Amateur Radio Club.