Dr. Nicole M. Roberts
Program Co-Director, New Kensington STEM Program

Dr. Nicole Bitar-Roberts is R&D Impact’s Program Co-Director for the New Kensington STEM Program. A seasoned educator, working in elementary schools as a teacher, instructional coach, and principal, Nicole is currently a Certified Principal in the New Kensington Arnold School District in Pennsylvania, overseeing two high poverty schools. Nicole has a Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and Administration, a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Teaching, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education and Elementary Education. In addition, Nicole is an expert in compassion fatigue in high poverty schools and a certified Trauma Informed Care Trainer and Professional Development Coordinator.

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Matt Davis
Program Co-Director, New Kensington STEM Program and
Science Advisor

Matthew Davis is currently an AP Chemistry Instructor in the North Allegheny School District, located in a northern suburb of the city of Pittsburgh. With almost 30 years experience in the world of science education, Matt brings a wealth of knowledge in the arenas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to the R&D Foundation Team. As the sponsor of the North Allegheny Chemistry Olympiad team, Matt has had seven students place in the top 20 in the United States in the National Chemistry Olympiad, with two of the students placing high enough to represent the US in the International Chemistry Olympiad competition. Matt obtained a Bachelor of Science (summa cum laude) in chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University. He obtained a Master of Science in Polymer Science from the University of Massachusetts and a Master of Arts in Science Teaching from the University of Pittsburgh.

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Rachel Bitar
Assistant STEM Teacher

Rachel Bitar is a Pittsburgh-area native, born and raised in Western PA. Rachel is naturally drawn to children and has spent her career so far in the education and early childhood development spaces.  Rachel completed four years of undergraduate study at Clarion University, now known as Pen West University. She honed her interest in childhood education while volunteering in her local New Kensington-Arnold elementary schools. Her own struggles with ADHD and dyslexia informed her interest in teaching and helping kids with learning challenges. High school robotics and engineering classes sparked a love of STEM and brought to Rachel’s attention the need to foster STEM identities, especially in girls. For the past year, she has worked full time as a lead teacher in an early childhood setting in addition to supporting the New Kensington Science Project’s after-school and summer STEM programs.