Head Coach: Kimber Thaman Kim has been involved with NASA since 2015 as a parent, treasurer, assistant coach, and now Head Coach. Both of her kids have participated in Science Olympiad for years, and with one in college and the other a graduating senior, she's "been there and done that" with every aspect of science team. Her coaching style is low-key and relaxed. She believes that kids are primarily motivated from within and that her role is to encourage that fire, create a path for success, build an environment where fun, learning, and competition meet, and then get out of the way. "I really love mentoring the high school kids. Their idealism, vast intellects, and senses of humor make for some exceptionally lively meetings. We tend to laugh a lot, and have been known to go off-track on obscure tangents because, hey, I'm kinda nerdy that way. And when their hard work leads to successes in competitions, school, or life in general, well, there's just not a more rewarding feeling than that." Kim also coaches the middle school team, and loves watching them grow in self-confidence and abilities as they find their tribe with other science-y kids. "What a fabulous age! These kids are so enthusiastic, so curious, and love learning. Science Olympiad was truly a game-changer for my own kids, and it's so fun to be a part of that same excitement with others as they discover the joy of science, teamwork, and academic competition". |
Assistant Coach: Michele Vaughan
Michele has been involved with NASA since 2018, first as a parent and event coach, and now as the assistant coach. She's still learning the ropes for different events and is excited to be on this learning journey with the NASA team. She has a son and daughter on the high school team who have made some of their best friendships meeting teammates through NASA. Michele's love for facilitating learning opportunities runs strong. Before becoming a homeschooling mom, she was a GT math/language arts/robotics teacher, a Spanish teacher, a school-wide enrichment coordinator, an independent study facilitator, and the gifted children's coordinator for Lone Star Mensa. She has extensive experience working with neurodivergence and enjoys supporting science-minded kids as they broaden and deepen their interests and navigate, often for the first time, a competitive experience as part of a team. Michele's coaching style focuses on support and communication with flexibility, authenticity, and humor. She enjoys encouraging kids to challenge themselves and to try something new. The excitement of seeing teammates grow as learners and competitors over the year as they gain confidence and skill is unparalleled. |