Dawn Whalen has been the proud owner of her COMPUTER EXPLORERS business in the Greater Hartford area since May 2005.  She offers programs to area students in each business line including after school/summer programs, programs integrating technology into the classroom for school age children and pre-k computer introduction programs.  Ms. Whalen brings to this business a 10+ year corporate career with expertise in technology training, human resources, curriculum design, and business management.  She bought the COMPUTER EXPLORERS franchise because of her love for technology and education.  With the high quality curriculum and hands-on, minds-on programs, written BY educators FOR educators, Ms. Whalen knows the solid programs she offers are providing awesome technology experiences for all her students.  Dawn is an active member of her community helping in New Hartford school classrooms, serving on the board for the New Hartford Business Council and volunteering her time with the New Hartford Women’s Club.  Ms. Whalen is a wife and mother of two daughters and enjoys being an entrepreneur in a business that truly has a positive and long-lasting impact on children, including her own!!

CE TEAM MEMBER SINCE 2009

Joan Chasse graduated from Wagner College with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and a minor in education.  She has more than twelve years experience in the corporate world as a computer programmer and teacher.  While working as a programmer, she took graduate courses in computer science at what is now Rensselaer Hartford.  Joan is certified to teach math and has instructed students in educational and business software, mathematics, and reading.  For many years, Joan has volunteered in community service projects involving educating students of all ages, helping the disabled and health organizations, and providing assistance for the elderly.  She recently started working at a children’s library.  Joan Chasse loves to learn and is interested in learning more about library science.  Working for COMPUTERTOTS and a children’s library is helping her to provide some meaningful purpose for the education of students whose future success lies in doing things well.  She is the mother of one son who is currently attending college to work in the field of education.  Joan enjoys reading, walking, hiking, swimming, cooking, sewing, and knitting.

CE TEAM MEMBER SINCE 2008
Ms. Griffin joined our team in the Summer of 2008 in our TechStars Summer program and has now moved to our after school programs.  Gail is a Computer Lab Assistant at Wethersfield HS and is also the Tech Advisor for their on-line school newspaper.  She is very involved with the schools auditorium productions as sound and light board operator.  Gails volunteer experience includes webmaster for various organizations, Technical Theater Advisor, and camera operator/video editor for Wethersfield Community Television.

CE TEAM MEMBER SINCE 2009

Katie Malachowski has a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education from Southern Connecticut State University. Her studies included graphic design software and web page building. Ms. Malachowski has been working as a substitute teacher in the greater Hartford area and assists at a local creative arts studio for children on weekends. She is also a volunteer staff member of ConnectiCon LLC, an annual pop culture convention in Hartford, CT that features industry professionals from the video gaming, computer, and animation fields. Ms. Malachowski looks forward to bringing her background in creative arts software to the TechStars program. 

CE TEAM MEMBER SINCE 2003

Kim Heintz has been a part of the COMPUTER EXPLORERS team since 2004. Kim started her career as a preschool teacher and then moved into adult computer training. She has had her own business in desktop publishing for the past 14 years. She is a mother of 3 who has been the communication director of local PTO board for the past 3 years as well as web master of their PTO website. Besides the volunteer work she does for the schools, she is the president of the West Hartford Women’s Soccer Club and plays violin for the West Hartford Symphony. Kim continues in her role as COMPUTERTOTS Teacher Manager supporting the day to day operations of the pre-k computer programs.

CE TEAM MEMBER SINCE 2008
Michelle Ebert, serving in the roles of TechStars Teacher Trainer and as a school-based Integrated Technology Resource teacher, has the ability to continue her interest and passion for both technology and the learning environment. With a corporate career spanning more than 17 years, she brings a wealth of knowledge in technology training, curriculum development, and IT project leadership. Michelle also holds a Certified Technical Trainer (CTT+) certificate for effective technology instruction and classroom management based on nationally recognized standards.  Michelle enjoys international travel with her family, and considers her 12 year old son her greatest gift. She has previous experience with younger children as a coach, mentor, and tutor. Michelle enjoys working for COMPUTER EXPLORERS because of the great team she works with, the flexibility in the work schedule, and for the opportunity to continue teaching the wonderful world of technology to the next generation of children!

CE TEAM MEMBER SINCE 2008

Pam Gerardo is a vital part of the COMPUTER EXPLORERS team teaching for our COMPUTERTOTS programs in area daycare centers and preschools. Ms. Gerardo holds a BS in environmental science and hydrogeology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a MS in education from University of New Haven. She taught high school earth science for one year and high school biology for one semester. Pam is now a mom of a preschool-aged boy and a baby girl. Ms. Gerardo started working part-time as a tutor and an elementary science teacher after her son was born. Pam recently started as a COMPUTERTOTS teacher and enjoys using her teaching skills to help preschoolers learn an important skill. In addition to COMPUTERTOTS, Pam still tutors and volunteers as a preschool Sunday school teacher and elementary girl’s basketball coach.

CE TEAM MEMBER SINCE 2008
Ms. Murphy is part of our teaching team for the TechStars after school/school vacation programs.  Staci graduated from the University of Montana with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. She student taught 5th grade at Pine Grove Elementary/Avon and went on to substutute teach in Avon and Canton. Staci became a Building Teaching Assistant at Morley Elementary/West Hartford where she managed the Homework Club after school. Ms. Murphy was also the Recreation Director for a day camp in Lake Placid, NY and worked in the Special Education Dept at Lake Placid Elementary. Staci received a fellowship for a Master’s degree from Saint Joseph College and taught remedial reading and writing at Webster Hill School/West Hartford. She was the permanent substitute teacher, reading tutor, and held many long term assignments in the Simsbury and Canton school systems. This past year she became a certified coach and now coaches track at Canton Middle School.  Staci is married with 3 young daughters. When she does find time for herself, she loves to spend time outside gardening, running, skiing, hiking and camping with her family. Teaching for Computer Explorers is a perfect match for her skills and the needs of her busy family. Staci is very excited about this new teaching endeavor and is proud to be a part of the important role that technoloy education provides our children for the future.