Mission: For ALL students, particularly the most vulnerable-Special Education (SPED), minority, English Learners (ELs), and economically disadvantaged students- to reach their full academic potential.
Dr. Darlyne de Haan
In 2004, Dr. Darlyne de Haan founded Mad About Science, a 501c3 non-profit organization, to make science exciting and engaging for educators, parents and students. She received a $10,000 grant from South Jersey Gas to provide services and community programs for over 100 students in Atlantic City, including after-school STEM and Summer programs. Under the organization, she created two platforms, Neighborhood Science and Brain Based Science, to help people understand the brain's impact on social-emotional development, instruction, and other learning issues that impact English Language Learners and other vulnerable populations. Her programs have been featured on WNET/PBS's Camp TV, NJ.com and Latino Motion.
Darlyne is a recipient and participant of the coveted Fulbright Administrator program for Fulbright Leaders for Global Schools, a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). She is part of a cohort that will travel to Singapore to partake in the International Education Administrators (IEA) seminars. The program helps U.S. international education professionals and senior higher education officials create empowering connections with other countries' societal, cultural and higher education systems.
She successfully defended her dissertation on increasing teacher self-efficacy of general education teachers of English language learners. She is now a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership. She speaks at conferences throughout the country on biochemistry, neuroplasticity, emotional versus primitive brain and mindsets versus fixed mindsets, improving instructional practices for English Language learners and other vulnerable populations. She is a strong advocate for changing the face of STEM to reflect the population. She has recently participated in the National Council of the Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), STEMCON and the Innovative Schools Summit conferences.
As a former Forensic Scientist and Environmental Chemist with over 20 years of experience in STEM, Darlyne is currently the Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Math and Science for a large Title 1 District in New Jersey. She started the first forensic science course at Pleasantville High School as a teacher and Bridgeton High School as an administrator. In both locations, the program grew from one class of 25 students to over three courses of over 100 students in one school year. Additionally, she is a former middle school vice principal, former instructional specialist for the New Jersey Department of Education, as well as a former supervisor of math, science, STEM and technology.
Darlyne is fluent in English and advanced in Spanish. She holds a Master's degree of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and a Master's degree of Educational Leadership.