This is part of a series of blogs from Noble campus representatives to give a deeper look at campus life.
At Johnson College Prep, these classrooms buzz with energy as students race to perfect a roller coaster design, testing speed, balance, and imagination all at once in Mr. Russell’s physics class. Down the hall, calculators click in Ms. Giwa’s algebra 2 class and Ms. Wright’s financial literacy class. Our next generation of designers and scientists explores media and experimentation in Ms. Powell-Kelley’s media arts class and Ms. Mac’s biology class. Across Johnson, STEM looks like creativity in motion. Students are coding, experimenting, designing, and discovering new ways to understand the world around them. Meet the Johnson educators who make the vision come alive every day.
Shyheim Russell | Physics Teacher
Quick Facts:
- Year at JCP: First year
- From: Hartford, Connecticut
- Education: Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Olin College
- Fun fact: Has been drawing and gaming since age 4
- Currently watching: To Be Hero X and One Piece
- Favorite colors: Red and purple
What students say:
“My favorite thing about Mr. Russell as a teacher is that he’s very open with his students. He engages with the class, he asks questions, and makes sure we understand the material.”
– Angel W.
“Mr. Russell is a very chill teacher.”
– Darion W.
More about Russell:
Russell working with students from his 1st-period physics class.
Shyheim Russell, known as Mr. Russell, brings a dynamic mix of engineering expertise and teaching passion to the classroom. Raised by grandparents who weren’t tech-savvy, Russell’s early exposure to engineering came from his uncle, a financial technology engineer.
“I was very close to my uncle… Through him, I gained an early glimpse of what engineering could accomplish,” Russell said.
He always strives to connect his lessons to real-world problems, as he saw with his uncle. He often uses robotics to show students how it can help them in their daily lives. One of his favorite projects is the “Tallest Tower Challenge,” which “gets students thinking about designing and collaboration as early as day one.”
Russell believes STEM is more than just academics. It’s about understanding the world around you and how you can make a difference.
“You don’t need to be a STEM person to want to improve the world around you. STEM is not about science, math, or any of that, but rather being able to understand the world around you and make changes that you think are needed,” Russell said.
His ultimate goal is to equip students with the critical thinking skills that will empower lasting change.
Barbara Wright | Financial Literacy Teacher
Quick Facts:
- Year at JCP: Third year
- From: Englewood, Chicago
- Education: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Dillard University
- Fun fact: Loves to laugh
- Currently listening: Podcasts about investing and AI
- Favorite colors: Brown and orange
What students say:
“{Ms.Wright} is a good teacher! She wouldn’t move on until we all got it. She’s organized and makes the work easy even though it’s such a hard subject sometimes. If I could, I would take her class again.”
– KeAsia H.
“She taught us how to budget and manage money, and how to manage my money better in general.”
– Jeremiah R.
More about Wright:
Wright and 10th grader Naviya working on a project.
Wright (third from right) and Powell-Kelley (second from right) with the Class of 2025 and members of the Chicago Public Library's Coleman branch for March to the Polls to vote in the 2025 presidential election.
Barbara Wright combines her love for math with over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience. From that, she learned how to read financial statements and balance sheets, and to manage cash flow—all skills she believes are essential for students. She takes that experience into her classroom.
She’s a champion of teaching financial literacy through real-world examples. One of her most popular ways to do this is by helping students learn to make everyday financial decisions through the game “SPENT”. SPENT challenges players to survive a month on a limited budget. Through the game, students experience firsthand the realities of managing expenses, making tough financial decisions, and understanding the importance of budgeting and planning.
Wright ultimately hopes to change mindsets in her community.
“I want my students to know I really want them to create generational wealth and change the mindset that only rich people can invest and become self-sufficient,” Wright said.
To parents, she urges, “Talk to your child about money in a positive way. If parents take financial literacy seriously, we can change our community.”
Shatara McDonald | Financial Literacy Teacher
Quick Facts:
- Year at JCP: Fourth year
- From: Chicago’s West Side
- Education: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Chicago State University
- Fun fact: Studied abroad in Tanzania, Africa
- Currently: reading Pet Sematary, watching Living Single reruns, listening to Drake + PND
- Favorite colors: Pink and green
What students say:
“I love how {Ms. McDonald} knows things that we just don’t. Like chromosomes, sickle cell and stuff like that. I learned that people with sickle cell have different blood cells. Healthy blood cells are round, while people with sickle cell have more of a bent shape. I never knew that until her class.”
– Gerriah J.
“The most interesting thing I’ve learned in Ms. Mac’s class was the strawberry lab. We had to put a strawberry in a bag to see its background and add salt, dishwashing liquid, and some other stuff to get the DNA!”
– Johnae E.
More about McDonald:
McDonald (center left) and some of her students celebrating their Freshman year Puma Awards last year.
McDonald (left) and a student at the Museum of Science and Industry for a field trip last year.
Shatara McDonald, affectionately called Ms. Mac, brings vibrant energy to science education rooted in local realities.
“I always root science in the world my students see every day—whether it’s food deserts in Chicago, environmental issues in our neighborhoods, or even analyzing the nutrition labels on their favorite snacks,” McDonald said.
One project she highlighted as a favorite is the Chinampas Project, where students explore ancient farming techniques.
“Students loved watching farming communities working with soil and water to connect ancient practices to modern sustainability,” McDonald said.
Another highlight for her was when one of her students connected their lesson on cell function to music production. He explained how organelles reminded him of roles in a rap group— “the nucleus as the lead, mitochondria as the energy, ribosomes as beat makers.” Seeing STEM as human and flexible is what McDonald wants her students to take away.
“Science is power. Understanding your body, your environment, and your food gives you the ability to make choices that change your life,” McDonald said.
Every day, McDonald is inspired by her mentors, who remind her how representation matters and her presence as a Black woman in STEM makes a difference for her students.
Maxx Powell-Kelley | Media Arts Teacher
Quick Facts:
- Year at JCP: Fifth year
- From: Chicago’s North & West Side
- Education: Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Lawrence University
- Fun fact: Majored in Vocal Performance at Chicago High School for the Arts and was a member of their 2nd graduating class (Class of 2014)
- Currently: listening to Folded by Kehlani and reading Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
- Favorite color: Periwinkle blue
What students say:
“I look forward to her class because I like the energy she brings; she brings a very happy vibe always. She keeps things simple and connects with us to make sure we understand the work.”
– Myhadji T.
“She boosts our confidence. I was thinking I couldn’t do honors media arts because I had a lot going on, and she helped me see that I could do it. I was struggling with a project because I was absent and had to catch up. But, I created something that I didn’t think I could at first.”
– Joe’l T.
More about Powell-Kelley:
Powell-Kelley (center left) with her advisory students at Johnson's Women's Empowerment Brunch in 2022.
Honors media arts students from the Class of 2025- Marilyn, Droy, LaShaun, and Mikayla- recording their podcast project “Black Girl Magic".
Maxx Powell-Kelley, known as Ms. PK, blends a background in arts and technology to empower students in media arts and computer skills.
“I found a passion for graphic design and media arts while creating content and social media footprint for my local sorority, and I never abandoned it in my teaching,” Powell-Kelley said.
Her classroom serves as a launchpad for creativity and critical thinking. Students produce podcasts, develop graphic design projects, gain college-level typing skills, and explore historical technological advancements.
One of Powell-Kelley’s favorite lessons from her computer skills classes was the Build Your Own Superhero project, which taught students the importance of keywords and how to use AI software effectively. Through the project, students created hybrid superheroes and crafted descriptive keywords to generate accurate images using AI, discovering both the power and limitations of artificial intelligence. Students concluded the unit by presenting their superheroes and sharing their learning process with the class.
Powell-Kelley aims to help students lean into their creativity while developing discernment when using artificial intelligence tools. During the Digital Citizenship and Artificial Intelligence unit, students view selected scenes from I,Robot (2004) to spark discussions around the ethical considerations of emerging technology.
By comparing today’s AI tools to the advancements portrayed in a 2004 film set in Chicago in the year 2035, students explore ongoing challenges related to accessibility, environmental impact, and accuracy. Emphasis is placed on understanding that platforms like ChatGPT are tools–not search engines– and can be wrong. These conversations help students approach AI critically, thoughtfully, and responsibly.
“With technology evolving so quickly, I prepare my students by teaching them how to think critically, not what to think,” Powell-Kelley said.
Morenike Giwa | Algebra II Teacher
Quick Facts:
- Year at JCP: Seventh year
- From: South suburbs of Chicago
- Education: Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, Governors State University
- Fun fact: Self-described overachiever and slight perfectionist
- Currently: listening to a gospel playlist, reading Enemies of the Heart by Andy Stanley
- Favorite color: Green
What students say:
“I like the way she {teaches}. She explains the work {easily}, she will walk around and make sure you get it. If you say you don’t get it, she will really break it down. ”
– Unique F.
“She’s very helpful; she will help you to the max.”
– Breanna C.
More about Giwa:
Giwa helping a student with classwork.
Giwa (center) with her advisory students.
Morenike Giwa, or Ms. G., was inspired by her godmother’s decades in education to make math approachable and meaningful. She uses practical examples, such as budgeting and sports stats, to help students see math in their everyday lives. She also goes above and beyond to make math accessible.
When a new student overcame language barriers and became a top performer with tailored support, it reminded Giwa of the impact of personalized teaching when it comes to making math accessible.
“She had an eager curiosity to learn math. I translated materials into Spanish, found Spanish-language teaching videos, and created Kahoot activities to help her feel included… Now, her love for learning and for math is still just as strong,” Giwa said.
Giwa prepares students not only academically but also for life beyond school, emphasizing consistency and resilience. She wants her impact as a teacher to be remembered by how she consistently set high expectations for all her students and created a space where students “felt loved and enjoyed to be in.”
From exploring ancient farming techniques to mastering financial literacy through real-world simulations, JCP’s STEM educators bring innovation to life in their classrooms. Together, these teachers create an environment where students explore, take risks, and discover new ways to think critically and creatively.
“Every formula solved, every experiment completed, every code written is more than a lesson. For our students, access to STEM isn’t just about opportunity; it’s about rewriting the narrative of who belongs in these spaces,” Johnson’s principal, Hamza Salameh, said, “Each day, our STEM teachers are not only building knowledge but building confidence and creativity, inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators to see themselves at the center of discovery.”
