Arthur T. Poulos, Ph.D. - Chemistry & Mathematics
Dr. Poulos is the co-founder and principal of SciCore, inspired to bring professional excellence to the teaching of science, focused on the need for hands-on laboratory experience, an understanding of the scientific method, and an inquisitive spirit of research within classrooms. He graduated with a Ph.D. and M.S. in Physical Chemistry at Northwestern University and has a B.S. with distinction in Chemistry and Magna Cum Laude at Duke University. He also finished post-doctoral studies at the University of California-Santa Cruz in photochemistry and spectroscopy and has seven years of experience in teaching inorganic chemistry at Rutgers University. He is president of Optomechanical Enterprises, a research and consulting firm specializing in real-time detection of chemical species in mixed media. and has extensive contract research experience conducted for NASA, NSF, USAF, DOE, and EPA, small businesses, and universities. Dr. Poulos can often be found asking students to come up to the white board to balance a chemistry equation, or swirling a test tube in the laboratory with students hoping for a dramatic applause-worthy reaction of reagents. He has been an inspiration to many students throughout the years and has passed on his explorative, scientific mind and knowledge to many of our alumni that now pursue or have careers in engineering, medicine, and other advanced fields.
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Danette N. Poulos - Elementary Mathematics & English
Mrs. Poulos is the co-founder of SciCore Academy and serves as Vice-Principal and an elementary English teacher. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Westminster Choir College with an extensive, experiential background in vocal and speech pedagogy, specifically in articulation and expression. In her over twenty years of teaching academically advanced children, Mrs. Poulos's Accelerated Learner's Program advances young children to a third grade reading level by Kindergarten. By fourth grade, students reach a mastery of the fundamentals of grammar, proficiency in essay writing, essential vocabulary, and reading comprehension of unabridged classic literature. Mrs. Poulos also coordinates marketing, school activities, handles the admission process, and mentors international students in literacy and speaking proficiency. Additonally, Mrs. Poulos guides middle and high school students with their communication skills, building their practice of etiquette, rhetoric, enunciation, eye contact, and the Golden Rule. Mrs. Poulos lives by the philosophy that students deserve to be fed an intellectual feast.
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Goska Costello - Pre-K & Kindergarten Reading, Elementary Science
Goska Costello is very passionate and deeply cares about quality instruction in science and mathematics. She is a big supporter of hands-on learning experiences. Her science classes are filled with extremely messy, fun, and inspiring projects, demonstrations, and experiments.
She holds a BS degree in chemistry from Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. She gained her teaching experience working alongside Mrs. Poulos during SciCore's Summer Reading Enrichment Programs.
She has years of experience in the business field, being the successful owner of a health food store in Ewing, NJ. Mrs. Costello enjoys being around young children and having a positive impact on their young lives. When not in the classroom, she enjoys reading and spending time outdoors with her two sons.
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Christopher Poulos - Middle and High School Humanities
Christopher Poulos graduated from Duke University with a degree in Sociology and a certificate in Markets and Managing. He teaches a variety of key elementary and middle school humanities courses, which include AP World History, AP Seminar, Great Books, World Literature World Geography, American History, Debate, and World History. He now serves as both an administrator and a teacher for the school, directing and advising for decisions on marketing, advertising, and admissions. Mr. Poulos is a firm believer in the art of logic and rhetoric as the fundamental cornerstone of critical thinking, data analysis, and entrepreneurship. Through training in discourse and measuring the validity of different possible points of view, he trains the students in humbly reaching for objectivity and creativity when examining history, philosophy, statistics and editorials, essay structure, and public speaking. He also serves as the debate coach of the school, and they have had a very successful two years, winning various awards in both three day tournaments and longer running tournaments. With the Socratic weapon of asking good questions, he hopes that children from grades 6-12 can take this skill and enhance all of their academic and social endeavors, expanding their world view and enriching the world around them with their own contributions.
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Jaroslaw Radzimierski - Physical Education Teacher
As the Physical Education teacher for students from Pre-K through Grade 12, Mr. Radzimierski leads a comprehensive program that builds foundational motor skills and develops athletic abilities through units in volleyball, basketball, handball, soccer, badminton, table tennis, and strength conditioning. In addition to physical education, he teaches History and Geography to students in Grades 2 through 5, covering topics in world geography and history. He also leads the 6th Grade American History curriculum, guiding students through the major events from early colonization to the formation of the United States. He holds a Master's degree in Diplomacy and Political Affairs and brings a global perspective to his teaching. As a teacher, Jaroslaw’s prestigious international experience as a competitive dancer — combined with his kind personality and warm sense of humor — makes him a patient, experienced, knowledgeable and empathetic mentor. His passion for education, athletics, and the arts helps shape a vibrant and well-rounded student experience at SciCore Academy. Jaroslaw, the founder of Viva Ballroom Dance Fitness Studio based in Lawrenceville, is now well known as a world-class dance instructor and DVIDA adjudicator ,specialized in International Style Standard, Latin, American Smooth and American Rhythm styles.
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Denise Stearns - Art Teacher
Mrs. Stearns is a Graduate of DuCret School of the Arts with extensive fine arts education. Having studied under a world-renown portrait artist, she acquired both the artistic skill and business sense to exhibit work in Sportsman Galleries with watercolors of antique fishing lures and equipment. She enjoyed a career in Graphic Design, working in the layout, creation, and production of printed material. Her teaching career began with an art program devoted to a central Jersey Homeschooling Association, which led to a request to teach at Metuchen Christian Academy. She taught grades 4 through 8 for 7 years while also teaching at Perth Amboy Assumption Catholic School grade Pre-K thru 8. Over the last year, Mr. Stearns has worked as a lead Pre-K teacher in East Brunswick. The arts provide a child with challenges and the ability to convey problem-solving skills.
It is my pleasure to provide the best artistic experience that compels a student to exceed through expression and build confidence in all that they do at SciCore. Mrs. Stearns is married, with two adult sons. She has also devoted much of her musical skills to singing in worship teams, playing piano, and working with Youth.
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Tanny Salinas - Spanish
Mrs. Salinas graduated from the Andres Bello Catholic University in Venezuela with a Bachelors in Media and Communications and graduated from CIEVYC in Buenos Aires, Argentina with a Masters in Film and Television Directing Studies. She has been teaching TV production to college-age Spanish-speaking students for more than six years and has helped in the production and marketing of various TV shows and film projects during her time in Venezuela. She also has much experience writing as a health and sports journalist for various publications including Zoni Voice Magazine and Arrocha Magazine. Mrs. Salinas uses various techniques to engage the students by getting to know their own culture and comparing it to Latin culture, as well as integrating Latin cultural and geographical information into the lessons.
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Eric Schreier - Mathematics and SAT Prep
Mr. Schreier received his education in mathematics from Rutgers University and Thomas Edison State University. He has a wealth of experience teaching mathematics over the past eleven years, in both SAT/ACT test preparation and pre-algebra through calculus to middle and high school students. He has helped students improve their test scores substantially, sometimes within a month or two, and has worked with students starting at all score ranges. He most enjoys the challenge of matching a student's learning style while teaching, approaching any given problem from multiple perspectives and learning modalities.
In his past experience, Mr. Schreier has also taught ballroom dance for several years, and served in the New Jersey Army National Guard for over thirteen years.
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Kyle Dekarski - Biology and Programming
Mr. Kyle Dekarski attended Stevens Institute from 2013 to 2015 with a concentration in Biomedical Engineering. He then attended Rowan College of South Jersey where he received his associates degree in Bioscience Technologies in 2017. Afterwards, he attended Rutgers University of New Brunswick and received his degree in Biological Sciences in 2019. He then worked in multiple environmental labs for five years where he performed testing on bulk/air materials for asbestos, water samples for Legionella, and air testing for mold spores. He then received his CompTIA A+ certification in 2024 after deciding to delve into his passion for technology as well as biology. He currently teaches AP Biology, Honors Biology, 8th grade Biology and co-teaches Pharmaceutical Science. He is also the programming teacher for 3rd through 8th grade and co-teaches a course on Artificial Intelligence.
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Mr. Craig Horton - Physics
Mr. Horton received his Bachelor Degree in Physics and Mathematics from Seattle University with a focus on astrophysics and observational astronomy. Some of the research he was a part of is currently in the review process for publication. He gained teaching experience through tutoring mathematics and physics for undergraduate courses. He teaches high school algebra-based Physics 1 and 2, as well as the digital electronics elective. His goal is to convey a passion for physics to his students and make them excited to understand the rule that govern our observable universe. He strongly believes that practice is the key to mastering physics, and so exposure to as many physics problems as possible is a focus in his classes.
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Elena Kartavov - Music
Elea Kartavov began her musical journey at the age of seven, studying at the Youth Music School, an institution dedicated to preparing students for professional careers in music. Though she initially took a different path- earning a Bachelor's Degree in History from a university in Russia- her passion for music eventually led her back. After immigratin to the United States, Mrs. Kartavov resumed her music education through the Royal Conservatory of Music, where she completed studies in Piano Performance, Music History, Harmony, Theory , and Piano Pedagogy. She earned Specialist Designations in Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced Piano, and today runs a thriving piano studio in Robbinsville, NJ, where her students regularly earn medals for achieving the highest regional exam scores.
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Mr. Miguel Iniguez - Chess
Mr. Miguel Iniguez teaches the in-school and after-school chess classes at SciCore Academy. He engages students in the game by first teaching them to love playing chess and then leading them to problem solving. Everywhere he teaches, the interest in chess increases. He has been a chess instructor for elementary school students in New York City and Princeton for many years. He has directed summer chess camps, instructed chess teachers, and coached winning chess teams.
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