Golda Och Academy is pleased to announce Mr. Andrew Mittleman as its new lower and middle school STEAM educator. Mittleman will teach technology classes to students pre-k through fifth grade, incorporating basic computer skills, coding, robotics, engineering and media production. He will also collaborate with the talented lower school faculty to help teachers incorporate cutting-edge technology into their classrooms.
In addition to the daily curriculum, Mittleman will host after-school Funtracks enrichment opportunities for lower school students interested in developing advanced media production and/or robotics skills. He will continue to advise the middle school robotics team, the Ochtobots, and work with the upper school STEAM faculty to create unique cross-campus collaborations and a one-of-a-kind, immersive STEAM program that spans both campuses. Mittleman will also meet with local STEM and technology education leaders to ensure that GOA has highly competitive programs and a unique lower school makerspace experience.
Over the last few years, Dr. Shira Kelamanovich, GOA’s director of STEM Education, has been working with lower school science teachers to integrate engineering design skills into the science curriculum. Recognizing the importance of having a dedicated STEM faculty member on campus, GOA brought Mittleman onboard. “We can see how excited our younger students get when they use design thinking to solve problems or create something new,” said Dr. Kelmanovich. “Having Mr. Mittleman as a full-time STEAM educator will allow us to dive deeper and continue to support our students’ interests in the STEM fields, develop their problem-solving skills, and prepare them for a technology-driven world.”
Though he is a new member of the lower school faculty, Mittleman is a passionate educator with a wealth of experiences working with students of all ages. He previously taught Media Production classes at Golda Och Academy’s upper school campus to grades six to 12 for three years and led the competitive middle school robotics program and middle school video club. Mittleman also co-led the Camp Ramah Nyack video production team for four years inside their immersive STEAM facility, Park Mada.
In addition, Mr. Mittleman is the regional director of Rugged Research, a nature-based education program that provides after-school classes to local elementary schools in Maplewood/South Orange and leads environmental science-based hiking classes in South Mountain Reservation on Sundays.
In all his endeavors, Mr. Mittleman challenges all his students to develop a growth-oriented, puzzle-solving mindset, which can adapt to tough challenges in our world and technology. “I am so thrilled to collaborate with our amazing students and help them learn how to use technology to let their imaginations run wild,” said Mittleman. “We will not only be learning how to use technology, but also discover how it was engineered, how it can be improved, and how we can use these tools responsibly to fulfill our practice of tikkun olam.”
To help execute these goals, plans are in place to transform the Lower School technology lab into a world of wonder called the Livnot Lab. The Livnot Lab will be a highly interactive makerspace, fabrication and design lab featuring the latest educational technology in 3D printing, coding, robotics and video production.
“It is a true pleasure to welcome Mr. Mittleman to this new role at the Lower School,” said Lower School Principal Carrie Z. Siegel. “He brings wonderful energy and enthusiasm to our program and appreciates the potential for how we can grow STEAM this year and beyond. Mr. Mittleman has already been hard at work co-teaching with Moreh Michael, meeting with grade level team leads, and exploring a range of innovative projects that will surely enhance the GOA experience for our pre-k through fifth graders.”
