Meet Our STEM Marin Team

---

Mr. Williams is the Science Department and Engineering Pathway Lead. He teaches 9th Grade STEM Physics & Engineering as well as AP Physics. 

Since 2007, Nick Williams has been an integral part of San Marin High School, teaching a variety of subjects including Physics, Engineering, AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), Biology, and Earth Science. He has held the position of Science Department Chair since 2011 and serves as the Lead Teacher for the STEM Marin staff, specifically enhancing the school's STEM Program. Beyond academics, he has also coached ultimate Frisbee, freshmen girls volleyball, and JV and varsity boys soccer.

Mr. Williams earned his Bachelor of Science in evolution and ecology, his teaching credential in science, and his Masters of Education from the University of California, Davis. His dedication to education was recognized in 2014 when he was named the Bay Area Educator of the Year by the California League of High Schools. Additionally, in 2015, Mr. Williams received the prestigious title of Milken Educator for California, often referred to as the 'Oscars of Teaching.'

Currently, Mr. Williams resides in Novato with his family, including his wife, three kids, and dog.  In his spare time, Nick enjoys hanging with his kids and wife, running, riding his bike, reading, playing on the beach, building things, making spreadsheets and slideshows, and thinking about educational best practices.

Mrs. Boyd is the Biotechnology Pathway Lead. She teaches Biotechnology 1, Biotechnology 2, and 9th Grade STEAM Biology. 

Gilly Boyd earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she played three years of Division III Women’s Volleyball. After graduation, she gained valuable experience working for seven years at Santa Cruz Biotechnology. 

In 2011, Mrs. Boyd moved to Marin and pursued her passion for fitness, serving as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach and Massage Therapist at CrossFit Novato for a decade. Her enthusiasm for Anatomy and Physiology, as well as Human Health, greatly enriches her contributions as a member of the STEM Marin staff. 

After the birth of her two children, Mrs. Boyd transitioned into the classroom, earning her Teaching Credential in Science from Sonoma State University in 2022. 

Currently, Mrs. Boyd resides in Novato with her husband, Cory Boyd (also a teacher at San Marin), and their two kids, Hopper and Dottie. When she isn't in the classroom, Mrs. Boyd enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, paddleboarding, and playing volleyball. She is passionate about weightlifting and loves helping young athletes get under the barbell. Additionally, she cherishes quiet moments spent reading, doing puzzles, or simply relaxing with her family.

Ms. Lloyd is the Art In Science Pathway Lead. She teaches STEAM Biological Illustration, STEAM Ceramics, AP Art/Design and Leadership.

This is Ms. Lloyd's 4th year at San Marin, but she has taught art in public schools for nearly 15 years. 

She earned both her BFA and MFA in Art Education from the University of Texas at Austin and has also worked for the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, and is currently a curriculum developer for the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Learning Lab. 

Her personal art practice centers on painting and illustration, including illustrating several books on Texas wildlife with her grandfather. Ms. Lloyd is passionate about connecting art and science to create innovative learning opportunities for students. 

Mrs. Carlomagno teaches 9th Grade STEM Biotech Biology & Tech of Biology and AP Biology

Jennifer Carlomagno has been a dedicated member of the STEM Marin staff since 1996, teaching at her alma mater, San Marin High School. She earned her bachelor's degree in biological sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and completed her teaching credential in life sciences at Dominican University. This past spring, she was awarded the prestigious Golden Bell Award for teaching.

Currently residing in Petaluma with her husband and two daughters, Mrs. Carlomagno enjoys being active outdoors, whether it's running, hiking, biking, or skiing. She also has a passion for traveling and reading.

Mrs. Vogl teaches 11th Grade STEM Chemistry and AP Chemistry 

Ms. Vogl has been a dedicated educator at San Marin High School since 2007. Alongside her expertise in Chemistry, she has also taught Biology, Earth Science, and Leadership, contributing significantly to the school's academic offerings, including the Biotechnology Pathway. Additionally, Mrs. Vogl has coached both the boys and girls cross-country teams, showcasing her commitment to student development beyond the classroom.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in biology from Sacramento State and her teaching credential in science from Sonoma State University. In recognition of her outstanding contributions, she was named the 2015 Bay Area Educator of the Year by the California League of High Schools, marking a proud moment for the San Marin science department and the STEM Marin staff, as they celebrated consecutive Bay Area Educators of the Year. Mrs. Vogl was also honored as San Marin’s Golden Bell Teacher of the Year in 2017.

A Novato native and proud alumna of Novato High School, Mrs. Vogl resides in Novato with her family, including her husband and four children. In her spare time, she enjoys running and cherishing moments spent with her kids.

Ms. Havel teaches AP Environmental Science and Marine Biology 

Ms. Havel has been a member of the STEM Marin staff since 2013. Her teaching experience also includes positions at Novato High School and Thurgood Marshall High School in San Francisco. In addition to APES and Marine Biology, she has taught courses in Ecology, Biology, and Earth Science.

Melissa Havel earned her Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Evolution at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Before pursuing her teaching credential at Dominican University, she worked in various roles, including studying steelhead salmon for Fish and Wildlife and serving as a dive master in the Caribbean.

Melissa lives in Novato with her husband, Curtis, and their son Declan, who attends San Marin High School. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, mountain biking, and hiking.

Mr. Blok teaches STEAM Physics, Biotech Physics, and Comprehensive Physics 

Mr. Blok has been a valuable member of the STEM Marin staff since 2007. Additionally, Mr. Blok serves as the Vice President of High School for the Novato Federation of Teachers. 

He received his associate degree from Butte College and Los Medanos College, and he earned his bachelor’s degree in Physical Chemistry from the University of California, Santa Barbara, along with his teaching credential from the University of California, Berkeley. 

Residing in Novato with his wife and two children, Mr. Blok enjoys spending his free time outdoors, engaging in activities like swimming, surfing, and mountain biking.

Mr. Tronconi teaches STEM Senior Engineering and Marine Biology

Mr. Tronconi has been a dedicated member of the STEM Marin staff since 2014. Originally from Italy, Mr. Tronconi earned his Bachelor of Science in environmental science from the University of Florence, Italy. He furthered his education by obtaining a Master of Science in environmental management and a Master of Arts in teaching, along with his teaching credential, both from the University of San Francisco. 

Residing in Napa with his wife, Mr. Tronconi enjoys running and hiking in his spare time. He has a passion for snorkeling, tinkering with technology, programming, and reading non-fiction on topics such as science, nature, tech, and history, as well as anything sci-fi. His fascination with archaeology adds to his diverse interests, and like any good teacher, he enjoys a great cup of coffee.

Ms. Femmel teaches STEAM Chemistry, Biotech Chemistry, and Comprehensive Chemistry

Joining the San Marin Science team in 2023, Ms. Femmel graduated from Humboldt State in 2017 with a degree in Marine Biology, focusing on Marine Ecology. 

After graduation, she collaborated with the Institute for Wildlife Studies as a research assistant, where she worked on a marine mammal extinction database and surveyed elephant seals in Ano Nuevo. 

She began her career in education as a paraprofessional in a K-8 Montessori School. In her spare time, she enjoys sewing, creating art, hiking, scuba diving, playing softball, and traveling. Ms. Femmel is excited to be part of the Biotechnology Pathway at San Marin High School and is proud to be a member of the dedicated STEM Marin staff.

Ms. Katsulis teaches Biotech Biology, Tech of Biology and STEM Ecology

Ms. Katsulis has been a dedicated educator in NUSD since 2017. Before joining the talented STEM Marin staff at San Marin, she taught 7th and 8th grade science at Sinaloa Middle School. 

Mrs. Katsulis earned her undergraduate degree in Marine Fisheries Biology from Cal Poly Humboldt. After graduating, she worked for the Department of Fish & Wildlife, then pursued her teaching credential and Master’s Degree in Education from the University of California, Santa Cruz. 

Residing in Petaluma with her husband, two kids, a dog, and three chickens, Mrs. Katsulis enjoys reading and outdoor activities, particularly gardening and swimming.

Ms. Niknafs teaches STEM Biology and Marine Biology

Ms. Niknafs joins the STEM Marin team with a strong background in biological research, field education, and laboratory instruction.

She earned both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Biological Sciences from Cal Poly, where she also completed her teaching credential. As a graduate student, Ms. Niknafs spent two years researching local adaptation in monkeyflowers and writing her thesis on the topic.

Her experience includes leading students on remote camping expeditions to the Channel Islands, where she taught biology and natural history through hands-on activities such as plant identification and vegetation sampling for ongoing research. She has also worked with the California Native Plant Society collecting botanical specimens and taught laboratory courses at Cal Poly in botany, evolution, and museum-grade specimen preparation.

Outside the classroom, Ms. Niknafs enjoys playing instruments, camping and exploring with her dog and friends, photographing the natural world, identifying plants and mushrooms, outdoor rock climbing, and weightlifting.

Mrs. Stafford is the STEM Marin Special Programs Coordinator at San Marin High School

Mrs. Stafford grew up in Madison, Wisconsin and earned her B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, where she also completed a certification program focused on Nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and  grant writing.

Her background includes extensive experience in marketing and customer service, highlighted by several years managing national operations for NIKE Volleyball Camps. After taking time off to raise her young children, Mrs. Stafford returned to the workforce as the Executive Director for Equip Sports, a local nonprofit. 

Mrs. Stafford joined the San Marin team in 2022 and manages a wide range of responsibilities, including marketing, community outreach, and internal operations. In 2026, she was a recipient of the Marin County Office of Education's Golden Bell Award.

Mrs. Stafford lives in Novato with her husband and children. A lifelong sports fan, she especially enjoys cheering on Notre Dame athletics and spending time at her family’s lake house in Minnesota.