Meet the Staff

Rick Reidy

director, texas governor's school

Richard F. Reidy is a professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of North Texas. He has a B.A. from Rice University (Chemistry and Biochemistry) and an M.S. and Ph.D. from Penn State (Metals Science and Engineering). He has published over 53 technical papers and received over $1.4 million in external research grants. In 2005, he testified on nanotechnology before the Research Subcommittee of the US House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology. His current research is on semiconductor materials, antibacterial wound care, and advanced body armor. Throughout his academic career, he has actively participated in K-12 science education: science fair judging, Science Day programs, and on site demonstrations. During summers, sixteen students from the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science have conducted research in his laboratory--most recently developing novel wound care products using silver nanoparticles.

Christina Dearman

curriculum coordinator

Christina T. Dearman is a gifted specialist for Denton ISD. She has a B.A. from Texas Christian University (Religion & Art History with a Minor in Art), a M.Ed. from UNT (Special Education, Gifted Ed.), and is currently completing a PhD from UNT (Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Gifted Education.) She has taught in various capacities from pre-k through secondary, serving as an honors level teacher, pull-out teacher, running school wide enrichment programs and teaching Saturday enrichment programs. She has also taught at the undergraduate and master's level.

Her vision for what gifted education can be stems from her own experiences in high school in which she was selected to participate in a pilot program for AP Art History. Weekly she traveled from her home school to the Art Institute of Chicago to take classes under art curator Jeanne Osgood. Students were allowed to peruse not only the exhibit areas, but the inner workings of the institute to gain better insights into art history and museology.

Kelly Born

student life coordinator

Kelly has a Bachelors of Social Work from Stephen F. Austin State University. She worked as a Residence Hall Director at Bruce Hall at UNT for 4 years, supervising and advising the residents and staff. During her time at UNT she completed her teaching certificate enabling her to teacher Kindergarten through 8th grade. Kelly is currently a 5th grade teacher for an International Baccalaureate candidate school in Denton ISD. Being in an IB school Kelly has learned to work with students through the inquiry process where students are able to guide their own learning.