Academics

STEM at Oakcrest

STEM is an integral part of the Oakcrest educational vision and liberal arts curriculum. With decades of experience in educating young women, Oakcrest is especially suited to help girls thrive in science, technology and mathematics.

The Oakcrest Science and Technology Department aims to develop in each student an understanding and appreciation of the synergy among the scientific disciplines. Through lab work, classroom demonstrations, hands-on projects and class work, each student relates the principles of science to the world at large. Using a fundamental understanding of the scientific method, course work builds from the sixth grade on, integrating technology, mathematics, communication skills, and specific scientific disciplines. Lab work and projects help students develop their teamwork skills and personal integrity while enhancing their understanding of the importance that collaborative work plays in science careers such as engineering, medicine, or research. Upper School students have weekly laboratory classes.

Our Mathematics Department strives to inspire appreciation for the richness and power of mathematics in order to help students enthusiastically undertake the process of comprehension, analysis and critical thinking necessary for the successful application of concepts to real-world problems. The development of analysis, logic and reasoning skills prepares students to create models, interpret data, and be critical of information in any academic, personal or professional situation.
Our mathematics faculty helps each student strive to reach her full potential by also encouraging perseverance, resourcefulness, and creative thinking. The use of independent and cooperative learning ensures growth in both individual confidence and teamwork skills.

At Oakcrest, both mathematics and science are required each year for all grades, and four years of Upper School science and Upper School mathematics are required for graduation.

For more details on the science, technology and mathematics courses offered at Oakcrest, see our Course Selection Guide.

Oakcrest is the recipient of a grant from the E.L. Weigand Foundation, which helped equip our labs and STEM program. Oakcrest has two labs featuring state-of-the-art equipment and a flexible learning environment that invite collaboration, communication, and hands-on constructive learning.

Oakcrest Science Internship - Teacher Assistant

A program designed for qualified Seniors who will serve as TAs for various science labs. Student TAs assist with the equipment and materials and gain experience writing objectives, procedures and safety guides.

- Oakcrest is a proud recipient of the College Board AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP Computer Science A. Schools honored with the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award have expanded girls’ access in AP computer science courses.

Science Teacher Dr. Kat Hussmann on STEM at Oakcrest

Students create their own Rube Goldberg Machines in Physical Science class.

Students have opportunities to hear from scientists in the field, such as Elizabeth Córdoba, a Payload Lead Systems Engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Elizabeth worked on the Perseverance Rover that recently landed on Mars, and gave Oakies an exciting inside look into the Mars 2020 mission.

Alumna parent Ana Maria Bobbio shares how Oakcrest prepared her daughter Lourdes '11 for her undergraduate studies at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduate studies in materials science engineering at Penn State University.

Meet Our STEM Faculty

Cynthia Bertolini - Pre-Algebra
Heather Finkler - Algebra II Honors, AP Statistics, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC
Heather DeLisle - Biology, Anatomy and Physiology
Christina Friddle - Life Science, Introduction to Physical Science, Applied Physics
Miria Fisher - Physical Education
Luz Gonzalez - Pre-Algebra Honors, Algebra I Honors
Kat Hussmann, Ph.D - Chemistry Honors, AP Biology, AP Chemistry
Bunmi Johnson, Ph.D - General Science, Life Science
Leslie Kanuch - Physics Honors, AP Physics
Jen Kilmer, Master Teacher Mathematics - Pre-Calculus, Pre-Calculus Honors, Function and Statistics
Suzanne Patrick - Calculus, Geometry
Jen Pruskowski - Physical Education
Ana Rose Soley - Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology, Introduction to Computer Principles, Geometry, Algebra II Honors
Jen Sypal - Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Geometry Honors
Ines Zinkewich - Math 6, Geometry Honors, Algebra II

Meet Lourdes '11: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Penn State University

Science Olympiad

Oakcrest's award-winning Science Olympiad team is a popular extracurricular at Oakcrest. The team has advanced to the Virginia State Science Olympiad tournament for the past five consecutive years, fielding its first Middle School team in 2021. In 2019, Oakcrest was the first all-girls team in history to compete in the Virginia State Science Olympiad tournament, finishing in the top ten in the categories of Designer Genes, Fossils, and Protein Modeling. Oakcrest science teacher and Science Olympiad moderator Dr. Kat Hussmann also received the 2019 Virginia Science Olympiad Coach of the Year award. In the 2020 regional competition, Oakcrest took first place among eleven high schools in the Anatomy and Physiology competition, and fourth in the Detector Building category. The Oakcrest team once again medaled in multiple events at the 2022 regional competition, including first place in Gravity Vehicle, second place in Forensics, and fourth place in Chemistry Lab and Ping Pong Parachute. In 2023, the Middle School Science Olympiad team advanced to the State tournament, with its Fast Facts team coming in sixth place.