BMSSO Coaches

BMSSO COACHES PROFILE PAGE

Head Coach Robert Fabian

Bob is a retired Science Teacher from Bearden Middle School. Ten years after retirement, he co-founded the BMSSO Team in 1988. He has been our Fearless Leader ever since, inspiring the team to win a remarkable 21 out of 23 State Tournaments. His dedication to teaching science and motivating our youth to succeed has been a cornerstone to this program. Bob continues to teach Science at a co-op school and operates a successful business. (Email: Head_Coach@bmsso.org )

Coach Jan Gangwer

Just think "CSI Knoxville". Over the years Coach G has collected a vault full of evidence for the Knoxville Police Department. Before that as a Special Agent/Forensic Scientist with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation she helped establish a Toxicology Section and Crime Scene Response Unit in East Tennessee. She holds an esteemed Masters of Science Degree in Biochemistry from the University of Notre Dame. GO IRISH!!

Coach Karen Jones

Karen has been with BMSSO for 12 years and is currently coaching Write It Do It. She holds a BS and MS in Food Technology and Science from UT College of Agriculture. As Special Consultant to the Head Coach, she has been an Assistant Head Coach, Board member and served in various capacities supporting the team. Her previous events include Science of Fitness, Water Strider, Wright STuff, Bio-Process Lab, Write It Do It, Food Science, Physical Science Lab and Science Crime Busters. Karen has raised three children all participants in the SciOly Program, two are currently coaching. She is also coaching at Bearden High School. Last year her team won a National Gold Medal in Write It Do It, and we are expecting the same this year, but no pressure Karen.

Coach Miller Callaway

Miller is our Assistant Head Coach and School Representative for BMSSO. He teaches 6th grade science at BMS, coaches the Ecology event, serves on the Advisory and Fundraising Board. Miller is our Go-To guy! In his free time Miller enjoys coaching youth Baseball.(Email: BMSSO_Rep@bmsso.org )

Coach Alysyn Wallace-Gardner

This is Coach Alysyn's first year of coaching. Taking on the Compute This! event has been an unexpected rewarding experience. Currently she designs websites and is a video editor. Her previous science background includes working at Oak Ridge National Labs as a Senior Research Assistant in Functional Genomics. She was part of the Human Genome Project. Her research includes studies for breast and kidney cancer, obesity, and diabetes. Secondary studies included depression. At the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine she was a Senior Research Assistant in Pathobiology studying the molecular characterization of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, beta-adrenergic receptors and potassium channels in small cell lung, breast carcinoma, and pulmonary adenocarcinoma. She has two degrees from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, a BS in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Science and a BA in Arts and Sciences, majoring in Psychology. Alysyn served in the United States Air Force for eight years, serving around the world. Alysyn and her husband Coach Collin Gardner have 3 children, their oldest, a daughter, Macie, won a Gold Medal at Nationals in Washington DC in 2008 in RoboCross. Their middle child Jonathan is an active member of the SciOly Team.