Mr. Roderick Thomas
Student Nominator: Cianni Williams– School of Education
Mr. Roderick Thomas is starting his 25th year as a librarian at Germantown Academy. Raised by his grandparents, Arthur (The first African American President of the Philadelphia Board of Education) and Emma in a home where many family friends were also educators, it was probably inevitable that Mr. Thomas would find his way to becoming an educator himself. Mr. Thomas worked his way through school and graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts from Temple University. Mr. Thomas spent years working for The National Park Service and different aspects of the book/publishing businesses before translating his experience to being a librarian for grades 6-12 and a diversity and community life coordinator for grades 9-12. Mr. Thomas considers his students to be his children. He is honored to have been nominated by his former student, Cianni Willams, for this year's Harold W. Pote Award.
Mrs. Lisa Tokmajian
Student Nominator: Brittany Hood – College of Arts and Sciences
Mrs. Lisa Tokmajian has dedicated the past 21 years to teaching biology, with the last 19 of those years spent at Bensalem High School in Bensalem, PA. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Delaware Valley University and went on to receive her Master's in Education from LaSalle University.
At Bensalem High School, Mrs. Tokmajian teaches Advanced Placement Biology, Honors Biology, and College Preparatory Biology. She serves as the co-curriculum coordinator for the high school science department. Her commitment to fostering scientific inquiry extends beyond the classroom; for the last ten years, she has been the advisor of the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of the Sciences. Additionally, Mrs. Tokmajian advises the high school’s state semi-final Mock Trial team. Mrs. Tokmajian serves as a reader for the College Board and serves on a state committee participating in range finding for the biology Keystone Exam.
Mrs. Tokmajian enjoys traveling and cherishes time with her family. Passionate about both her subject and her students, she finds great joy in developing lifelong relationships with her students and takes pride in watching them grow in their knowledge of biology. She is deeply honored to be recognized with the Harold W. Pote Award, a testament to the lasting impression she has made on her students, including Brittany, who nominated her for this accolade.
Jeff Kakes and Kelly Stepanenko
Mr. Jeff Kakes
Student Nominator: Kelly Stepanenko – College of Nursing and Health Professionals
Mr. Jeff Kakes has been teaching at Fremont High School in Sunnyvale, CA for the past 12 years. After a 12-year career in the corporate world, mostly in Communications, Community Development, and Project Management at eBay and various startup companies, he decided he didn’t like money anymore and that it was time to try something new. Remembering how his own teachers had such an outsized influence on his own development, and thinking “man, it would be awesome if I had even half that impact on someone else,” he worked toward his teaching credential at night and was lucky enough to land at Fremont. After starting as a Lit teacher, he jumped over to the History department, and now primarily teaches World History, another version of the class for students still learning English, and the ASB/Leadership program at the school. When not in the dunk tank, telling dad jokes to his unamused students, or riffing dodgeball at Fremont, he’s usually spending time watching his two daughters and his son play sports, driving them to sports, driving them home from sports, and writing checks for their sports. He is stunned to be receiving this award, cannot be more proud of Kelly, and hopes that this honors all of the innumerable people who have helped him reach a spot where he can help others.
Erik Wiessmann and Boni Zheng
Mr. Erik Wiessmann
Student Nominator: Boni Zhang – Westphal College of Media Arts and Design / Pennoni Honors College
Mr. Erik Wiessmann has been teaching Mathematics and Computer Science in the School District of Philadelphia since 2006. He holds a Master of Science in Instruction from Drexel University and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, with a minor in Media Arts. Mr. Wiessmann currently teaches Computer Science, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Computer Science A at the Academy at Palumbo, where he has been a teacher since 2012. He also serves as the Teacher Technology Leader and Web Publisher for the school, and he is involved in Google Apps for Education. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Mr. Wiessmann leads the Rubik's Cube Club and the Coding Club. He is passionate about mentoring students through the Students Run Philly Style program, where he has been a running mentor and regional coordinator since 2008. Under his guidance, the team has become one of the largest in the city, and he has successfully mentored hundreds of students through the Broad Street Run and the Philadelphia Marathon. For the past two years, Mr. Wiessmann has also been an instructor for Jumpstart Philly CS4All, helping to promote and support new computer science teachers in Philadelphia. His efforts in this role have contributed to the growth and development of computer science education in the city. Mr. Wiessmann is dedicated to creating an engaging and supportive classroom environment. He believes in project-based, inquiry-led learning and encourages his students to ask questions and think critically. His commitment to high expectations and strong support has led to impressive student achievements, including multiple first-place awards in state and regional technology competitions. He has been recognized for his dedication and excellence with awards such as the Lindback Award in 2021 and the CS4Philly Early Career Achievement Award in 2019. Mr. Wiessmann is proud of his perfect attendance record since 2005 and is honored to have a positive impact on his students' educational journeys.