Teacher: Ray Kaschalk, Haverling High School, Bath Meet Mr. Kaschalk (a.k.a. Gunnery Sergeant Morpheus Mentum). Mr. K teaches physics at Haverling High School in Bath, NY, and has been the host of the Regents Review Live! cable network television review show for New York State for the past four years. Mr. K is a lab developer for Cornell University's Center for Nanoscale Systems Institute for Physics Teachers and is a test item writer / field test rater for the Regents Physical Setting/Physics exam. Mr. K is also a 1st Degree blackbelt in Songham Taekwondo, who frequently incorporates martial arts techniques to help students learn physics. Since the June 2002 Regents Physical Setting/Physics exam, 50% of all Mr. K's students have received test scores higher than 85%, and 72% of all his students have scored 80% or above.

Mr. K's teaching style is a combination of Army training practices coupled with scientific inquiry. He follows the "Rule of Three" when planning lessons, i.e. students are exposed to a concept in three different ways to ensure capture. Physics labs begin with a central question which must be answered, with an empahsis on personal intellectual accountability on the part of the students in their scientific writing.

Mr. K is a frequent visitor to area schools to conduct physics/martial arts demonstrationsand is multiple honoree of Who's Who Among America's Teachers. He was recently honored with the Haverling class of 2008 yearbook dedication.

Mr. K is a graduate of Mansfield University, Mansfield, PA. He holds a B.S.E. in secondary physics education and an M.S.E. with an emphasis in computers in education. Mr. K is permanently certified to teach in New York, and is a National Board Certified Teacher® in A/YA Science, in the specialty area of Physics.

Mr. K is a fourteen-year teaching veteran, who brings a wealth of experience to the classroom. He received nuclear reactor operator and electronics technician training in the US Navy, became a commissioned officer in the US Army reserve and served as an M-1 Tank Platoon Leader. During his summers, he served as a Park Ranger in the US Army Corps of Engineers and has also worked as a lab technician in the High Power Test Lab at Cutler-Hammer in Horseheads, NY. More recently, Mr. K has participated in research experiences at Cornell University and has developed workshops which tie modern material science to Regents level modern physics curriculum.