Leadership & Stewardship

Katelyn Stickney brings a unique blend of clinical expertise, instructional experience, and deep intellectual curiosity to her work with learners. She is a dual board-certified cardiovascular sonographer who has combined her passion for science and learning with a commitment to teaching and mentorship across a range of settings.

Katelyn earned her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences and Diagnostic Imaging from the University of Wisconsin, where her studies integrated medical imaging science with education theory, healthcare management, and leadership. This interdisciplinary foundation shapes her approach to learning, emphasizing both strong scientific understanding and independent thinking.

Throughout her career, Katelyn has consistently engaged in teaching and mentorship alongside her clinical work. At Duke Health where she worked in cardiology, she not only practiced as a sonographer but also instructed and supported students in developing technical skills, clinical reasoning, and professional conduct. Her commitment to education also extends globally. Katelyn has designed and delivered instruction in cardiac sonography to healthcare providers in both Nepal and Kenya. These experiences strengthened her ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and adapt learning to meet the needs of each individual.

In addition, she served as an instructor at Forsyth Technical Community College, where she led hands-on learning experiences and tutored students in physics, mathematics, biology, and physiology. In these roles, she prioritized conceptual understanding, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

Beyond the classroom, Katelyn has invested in the development of young people as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters, where she supported character formation, cultivated confidence, and developed practical life skills.

At Socratic School of STEM, Katelyn seeks to cultivate curiosity, inspire a love of learning, and support students in developing both intellectual independence and a lasting passion for personal development.

Xaria Woodard is an educator committed to helping young learners develop curiosity, independence, and a lasting love of learning. She is especially drawn to learner-centered environments that invite children to explore ideas, ask thoughtful questions, and grow through hands-on discovery.

Xaria earned her Bachelor of Science in Science Education, with a concentration in Middle Grades Education, from North Carolina State University, where she was selected for the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program.

Over the course of her training and field experience, Xaria has worked in a variety of classroom settings, collaborating with experienced educators at Athens Drive High School, Leesville Road High School, Centennial Campus Middle School, and Springfield Middle School. Through these placements, she contributed to lesson preparation, supported student learning, and helped cultivate positive, engaging classroom environments. These experiences strengthened her skills in inquiry-based instruction, differentiated support, and thoughtful lesson design.

Xaria has also supported learners outside the traditional classroom as an academic tutor through the NC State College of Education, where she worked with students in biology, chemistry, geology, and physics. In that role, she helped students build understanding, confidence, and greater independence in their studies.

In addition, she has experience working with younger students in hands-on STEM enrichment through Snapology, where she helped guide children in LEGO-based engineering and robotics activities while supporting a wide range of learning styles and needs.

Xaria brings a calm, encouraging presence and a deep respect for each child’s individual growth. She values strong partnerships with families and seeks to create an environment where learners feel known, capable, and inspired to grow in both confidence and curiosity.

Kristen Reed combines deep instructional experience with strategic leadership and thoughtful design of learning environments. She holds a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Leadership and Organizational Change, grounding her work in both organizational strategy and evidence-based educational practice.

From 2020 to 2025, Kristen served as Upper Elementary and Middle School Guide at learner-driven independent schools in Texas and North Carolina, where she helped design rigorous learning experiences that prioritize inquiry, Socratic dialogue, and mastery-oriented growth. She planned differentiated curriculum sequences, facilitated student-led project work, and coached learners in developing autonomy, reasoning, and reflective habits.

Earlier in her career, Kristen applied her instructional expertise in homeschool and dual-credit settings. At Veranorth Academy, she developed personalized curriculum plans, conducted performance-based assessments, and coordinated experiential fieldwork to deepen student learning. As a Dual Credit & State Reporting Advisor at Lone Star College – Cy-Fair, she guided students and families through academic transitions, working closely with counselors, district partners, and regulatory requirements.

Kristen also supported student success through roles in student services and academic operations at Lone Star College and Johnson & Wales University, where she advised learners, coordinated community partnerships, and ensured effective implementation of institutional policies. She began her career in financial aid leadership and counseling, building foundational expertise in educational access and institutional systems.

Across all of her work, Kristen is known for strategic clarity, learner-centered design, and disciplined execution. At Socratic School of STEM, she brings these strengths to bear in shaping a school culture that is both intellectually serious and deeply supportive.

Soon-Far Hwa is a STEM educator, curriculum designer, and education entrepreneur with more than three decades of experience in rigorous, hands-on science education. He earned his Master of Science in Botany from National Chung Hsing University and completed advanced training in Plant Molecular Biology at Academia Sinica in Taipei, where his thesis focused on cloning and expression of rice α-amylase cDNA.

On June 10, 1995, Soon-Far founded Watson-Crick’s Scientific Center, a pioneering institution dedicated to making science accessible and deeply experiential. Over more than 30 years, he has led science instruction and curriculum development across disciplines including physics, chemistry, microbiology, zoology, botany, astronomy, and earth science, emphasizing learning through investigation, discovery, and meaningful experimentation.

Soon-Far designed the Science On Life (SOL) curriculum — a structured library of 588 sequential science courses that build student skill and confidence from foundational concepts to advanced applied topics. His work empowers learners to think scientifically, test hypotheses, and solve real problems using accessible materials and evidence-based practice.

In addition to his curriculum leadership, Soon-Far has contributed to the broader scientific education community through leadership roles. He served as Chairman (2019–2020) and Vice Chairman (2017–2018) of the National Federation of Science Education Associations (ROC) and as Chairman of the Taoyuan City Science Education Association in 2016. He also co-authored peer-reviewed research published in Plant Molecular Biology (1996).

Soon-Far is the author of two popular science education books, Playing Science with Dad and Playing Science with Mom (2021), and has been featured in television media for his work in making science engaging and accessible. His lifelong commitment to STEM education informs his leadership of science and innovation at Socratic School of STEM.

Troy Reed is the Founder, Chancellor, and an Advisory Board Member of Socratic School of STEM, where he leads the school’s vision, institutional design, and long-term strategy. He founded SSS to build a new model of education — one that cultivates independent thinkers, forms strong character through classical learning, and develops deep competence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through learner-driven, mastery-based, and project-centered experiences.

Troy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and a Juris Doctor. He earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Cornell University and also earned a diploma in French from the University of Poitiers (France).

Prior to launching Socratic School of STEM, Troy spent his career at the intersection of education, law, finance, and organizational leadership, bringing a multidisciplinary perspective to institution-building.  He founded VeraNorth Capital, an investment firm managing both a hedge fund with institutional clients in Zurich, Switzerland, and a healthcare private equity fund. He has served on multiple boards and was a featured speaker at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (Houston Branch). His professional background also includes experience with several Fortune 100 organizations.

Troy also has direct experience in higher-education governance and institutional improvement, including service on a Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Quality Enhancement Plan committee at the undergraduate level, a Law School Dean Search Committee, and admissions-related initiatives supporting enrollment functions.

Troy brings a rare enterprise-level perspective to innovative school design, emphasizing rigor, accountability, and sustainable excellence. He has been deeply involved in building educational initiatives, mentoring young leaders, and designing programs that prioritize depth of learning over rote compliance. He is particularly passionate about creating environments where students learn to think philosophically, build practically, and take ownership of their growth.

As Chancellor, Troy oversees mission alignment, governance, strategic partnerships, and institutional development. He works closely with academic leadership to ensure that SSS remains faithful to its core pillars while continuously evolving to meet the needs of future-ready learners. He is also passionate about piloting year-round initiatives around the “M in STEM™,” where learners develop financial literacy, entrepreneurial thinking, and real-world business acumen through hands-on enterprise.

Dr. Michael J. Strohecker is a distinguished clinician, military officer, and healthcare leader with more than two decades of service across the U.S. Navy, U.S. Public Health Service, and U.S. Air Force.

Dr. Strohecker earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine from Temple University School of Dental Medicine and commissioned as a Dental Officer in the U.S. Navy, where he completed a residency in Advanced Education in General Dentistry. He later served as Dental Department Head aboard the USS Ashland, providing comprehensive care to Sailors and Marines while deployed at sea. He went on to complete a Fellowship in Dentoalveolar Surgery at the Navy Postdoctoral Dental School.

In 2003, Dr. Strohecker transferred to the U.S. Public Health Service and served for eight years as Deputy Chief Dental Officer at Cherokee Indian Hospital in North Carolina, where he oversaw oral healthcare for approximately 18,000 members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and supervised multiple hospital-based and satellite clinics. As a Commissioned Officer of the USPHS, he also served on the Dental Professional Advisory Committee to the U.S. Surgeon General and as a Tier-1 Rapid Responder for national disaster deployments.

Dr. Strohecker later joined the North Carolina Air National Guard and currently holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, serving as the State Dental Surgeon. He is a graduate of Air University’s Air War College with credentials in Strategic Leadership and has recently completed deployment service at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, where he served in senior medical leadership roles supporting ground surgical, dental, physical therapy, and mental health teams.

In his civilian role, Dr. Strohecker is the Senior Dentist at the VA Medical Center in Salisbury, North Carolina, helping coordinate dental care for more than 28,000 Veterans.

He is a devoted husband and father of six — his proudest accomplishment — and brings to the Socratic School of STEM a deep commitment to service, character formation, disciplined leadership, and the development of young people who are prepared to think deeply and lead well.