Meet Our Science Faculty

ACADEMICS Meet...

Our Science Faculty

The Science Department is dedicated to developing students' science skills and fostering a deep engagement through the science and STEM curricula. Our faculty prepares students through laboratory investigations, discussion, and collaboration, with a focus on the development of problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. They incorporate engaging laboratory activities to supplement student learning build inquiry-based skills, and support scientific learning, as well as gain exposure to scientific equipment and materials.

In any given week, girls might be participating in DNA extractions in Biology, a 'flame test' in Chemistry, a dissection in Anatomy & Physiology, fingerprinting in Forensics, and circuitry in Physics. As they build comfort and confidence in the classroom, our students are encouraged to envision themselves in scientific fields and to pursue them. Mercy offers many science electives, including Forensic Science, Anatomy & Physiology, Sports Medicine, and Robotics, along with Advanced Placement classes - AP Biology, AP Physics, AP Chemistry and AP Environmental Science.

Mercy’s Science Department Chair

Louisa La Farge

Louisa La Farge has served as the Science Department Chair since the 2020-2021 school year. This is her ninth year at Mercy and she currently teaches Chemistry and

A.P. Biology. Ms. La Farge earned her B.S. in Biological Science from the University of Michigan and graduated from NDNU with a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential.

She also holds supplementary credentials in Biological Science and Chemistry. She was an arts education fellow at the National Endowment for the Arts, and worked in marketing and administration in the art and auction fields before becoming a teacher. Ms. La Farge is Chapter Advisor of the Science National Honor Society and moderates several STEM clubs at Mercy, where she loves to inspire the girls in their pursuit of careers in the arts and STEM fields. Mercy is proud of its Science team and the excellence they bring to the academic curriculum. We are passionate about the subjects “ we teach and are committed to sparking interest in the sciences, creating a positive and supportive learning environment, and inspiring bold and confident future leaders in STEM fields.“

Mercy is pleased to welcome three new Science teachers this Fall 2021!

Elizabeth Kendall

Dr. Kendall is our AP Environmental Science, AP Physics, Honors Physics, and Physics teacher. She earned her B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics from Case Western Reserve University before going to Stanford University to earn her M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. Dr. Kendall has an extensive background as a Senior Research Physicist, and was a Senior Program Manager for both Florida Space Institute and the Center for GeoSpace Studies. Dr. Kendall made a career change and earned her Single Subject Science Credential from NDNU, so she could take her knowledge and passion and inspire more young women to explore the STEM field. “Our team embraces hands-on, rigorous science education that meets the students where they are. Whether we are launching rockets in Physics or growing plants in Environmental Science, Mercy students connect real world applications to course content and learning targets. As the students progress through the Mercy program, they learn to confidently apply their science skills and become STEM leaders.”

Nicholas Lendaris

Mr. Lendaris joined Mercy as our Anatomy & Physiology and Forensics Science teacher. After graduating from UC Davis with a B.S. in Biological Science and a B.A. in Classics, Mr. Lendaris had a 10-year career with technology and biotechnology giants including Oracle, Genentech, and TIBCO Software. During this time, Mr. Lendaris always had a passion for supporting education and began teaching part-time at the Russian School for Mathematics in 2016. He earned his Single Subject Credential in Biology from NDNU and is excited to share his love for the sciences with our students. “I love my students and am honored to teach science here at Mercy. Human Anatomy and Physiology empowers our students with self-knowledge and lays strong foundations for progression into medicine and the field of life sciences, while Forensic Biology applies those scientific principles to the criminal justice system. We are proud to equip our students with a sound STEM education and the self-confidence they'll need to thrive in the real world.”

Elizabeth Sendil

Ms. Sendil is our AP Chemistry and Honors Chemistry teacher. She also supports our AMES Program. She earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech and her Single Subject Teaching Credential from San Francisco State University. Prior to teaching AP Chemistry and Physics at Oceana High School, she served as a Forensics Failure Analyst at RNA Consulting and an Account Manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific. Ms. Sendil is excited to bring her work experience to our STEM program. “The girls at Mercy get such a rich, hands-on learning experience, particularly in science. Teachers coach them through exploring new concepts, applying those ideas, and then extending their thinking. It is a joy to witness each student develop their understanding of difficult topics.”

Lindsay Stewart

Ms. Stewart is happy to continue her fifth year here at Mercy as a Biology and Honors

Biology teacher, along with being the Mercy Student Tech Team leader. She received a B.S. in Biology at University of Santa Cruz and an M.S. in Science Education at

Oregon State University. Prior to her Mercy career, she taught middle school at

Woodland School in Portola Valley for 6 years. She is passionate about women in science and loves to get to know her students and all of their strengths.

“Being a part of the Mercy Science team means meeting our students where they are. I am happy to be part of a team that pushes “academic rigor at every level of learning, while also maintaining connections with our students as we support the development of both their interests in science and their love of learning.

ACADEMICS ACADEMICS Welcome! NEW

Faculty & Staff

Reem Hanna Security

Kelly Hickey Director of Athletics

Elizabeth Kendall AP Environmental Science, AP Physics, Honors Physics, Physics Teacher Nicholas Lendaris Anatomy & Physiology and Forensics and Science Teacher

Niki Nielsen Advancement Associate

Aurora Nevett College Counselor

Kathleen Price Spanish Teacher Elizabeth Sendil AP Chemistry, Honors Chemistry and AMES Support

THANK YOU

Guest Speakers!

After Mercy students approached administration with a request to bring in speakers that could equip them with the skills necessary to stand firm in uncomfortable situations, Mercy quickly shifted Fall programming to include speakers who could teach students how to be more confident in protecting and advocating for themselves.

SELF-DEFENSE Net Dancel ‘89

Net returned to Mercy to teach students practical lessons in selfdefense. With the help of her sister, Audrey Vandenbroeck ‘98, Net got students up and moving as they practiced critical self-defense moves that every young woman should be equipped with.

FINDING YOUR VOICE

Tess Stern ‘02

Tess Stern ‘02 returned to Mercy to share advice and lessons learned throughout her life with a major focus on defining and owning your personal values and making confident decisions with these values serving as your moral compass. Tess shared the importance of standing firm in difficult situations, taking risks, and learning from every life experience.

HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

Seeing and Stopping Relationship Abuse

Katharine Berg, M.P.A. was our featured guest speaker during Pink Week. She shared the importance of recognizing the signs of an abusive relationship. She joined La Casa de las Madres (www. lacasa.org) as a volunteer in 2001, and champions La Casa's vision of violencefree lives and relationships. Berg now serves as the Director of Community Partnerships and Philanthropy.