The Jasper Learning Initiative Team

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Jasper Learning Initiative Teachers

Sam McFarland, 9th Grade English

My name is Samantha McFarland; I teach 9th grade GP, CP, and Honors English at the high school.  I attended Slippery Rock University where I earned my teaching degree in Secondary English Education.  In my free time, I like to play with my one-year-old daughter, go on walks and hikes with my dog, and read.  I love the outdoors, too: swimming, kayaking, jet-skiing, and biking are some of my favorite things to do with my family.  I am excited to join the Jasper Learning Experience because it is important for students to have a variety of challenging, innovative opportunities to grow as learners and to develop their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills

Jason Geist, Design & Development

​My name is Jason Geist and I have been teaching at Emmaus High School for 21 years.  I currently teach courses in math and technology education.  For the past 3 years, I have been teaching the Civil Engineering and Architecture class through Project Lead The Way at the high school.  I earned both my undergraduate and master's degrees from Kutztown University. I am truly excited about being a part of Jasper because I will be able to watch my students grow through the projects that they will design and then create throughout the school year.

Briana Luancing, Global Science Inquiry

​My name is Briana Luancing. I currently teach students Honors Biology and Global Science Inquiry, as well as Environmental Science in past years. I have a Bachelor's in Secondary Education with a concentration in Biology from Kutztown University and a Master's in Education from LaSalle University. I am thrilled to be a part of the Jasper Initiative to empower students by facilitating their learning through meaningful and creative inquiry-driven projects based on what they are passionate about. I'm excited to create a community within EHS where students develop strong interpersonal and critical thinking skills while making lasting connections with the Emmaus community as a whole. 

Mike Carolla, American Studies 1

My name is Mike Carolla. I am a family man, coach, outdoorsman, and American Studies teacher. I received a B.A. in History and M.S. Ed. in Counselor Education from St. Bonaventure University. The Jasper Institute is a unique opportunity to build close bonds with students while truly preparing them for life in an ever-changing work environment. 

Jasper Learning Initiative Administration

Laura Witman, Assistant Superintendent

I currently serve the students of East Penn School District as Assistant Superintendent responsible for secondary buildings. I formerly served the district for multiple years in the Office of Curriculum and Instruction.  Before that, I served in multiple school districts as a building administrator including Emmaus High School. 

​While in my curriculum and instruction position, I introduced the Project Lead the Way Engineering courses at EHS that include Introduction to Engineering Design, Principles of Engineering, Digital Electronics, Civil Engineering and Architecture, Computer Integrated Manufacturing, and Environmental Sustainability.  I also worked with administration and faculty at EHS to add AP Psychology, AP Language and Composition, AP World History, AP Computer Science Principles as offerings. We revised the science curriculum 6-12 for all students and more. We are constantly looking for ways to provide relevant and meaningful opportunities for students in the course of acquiring the skills and knowledge they need to be college and career ready.

I am well acquainted with career and college preparation based on my professional role and my role as a parent.  I have two sons who are recent graduates of Emmaus High School (class of ‘18 and ‘19). My older son is a sophomore at Penn State.  My youngest son is a freshman at University of Pittsburgh.  

Just as we have provided other opportunities for students to challenge themselves, I strongly believe providing an opportunity like Jasper is an important one that has been missing until now.

Mike Mihalik,
Jasper Lead

I currently serve as the Secondary STEM Supervisor in the East Penn School District.  Prior to that, I spent 14 years teaching at Emmaus High School.  I taught Earth & Space Science elective courses, including Geology of the National Parks, Meteorology, and Oceanography.  In addition to being a teacher, I was also the head baseball coach, advisor of the National Parks Club, and co-advisor to our Student Government.

I completed Master's degree programs in Educational Administration through the University of Massachusetts (Lowell) and Science Education with a specialization in Free-Choice Learning through Oregon State University.  The Free-Choice Learning program was a life-changing experience for me as it matched my passions for nature and the outdoors with education in places beyond the classroom. 

Every year since 2007, I have organized field trips for EHS students to go national parks.  We have had hundreds of students visit parks throughout our country and my experiences in Free-Choice Learning gave me validation that the experiences students were having outside of the classroom in the national parks had tremendous impacts on their futures.  

Since I have seen firsthand how beneficial it can be to provide students opportunities to learn outside the classroom, I am really excited to be part of Jasper.  I also have been a big part of our Student Government charitable work and think that this program is going to be a great thing for the entire community.