Amy Koch has been a researcher at three universities. Her degrees, the B.S. in Biology and the MAT in Science Education, are from Duke University. Prior to coming to RCHS, Amy Koch was a Biology teacher at Southeast Raleigh High School. In her spare time, Ms. Koch likes to read and spend time with her three children.

Eric Grunden has taught in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. He holds a BS in Chemistry and a MEd in Secondary Science Education from the University of Florida. In 2011, he was North Carolina's finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. In 2012, he helped found Research Triangle High School, a public charter high school in Research Triangle Park. At RCHS he teaches AP Environmental Science and Honors Chemistry, and assists with the Quiz Bowl, Science Bowl, and Science Olympiad teams.

Norma Pedersen holds a BA in Chemistry from Capital University and an MS degree in Biochemistry from NC State University where her research focused on hormone regulation of gene expression. She has taught Chemistry and Organic Chemistry at Wake Technical Community College, NC State University, and various high schools in the Raleigh-Durham area. She has also served as a Reader for the AP Chemistry exam.

Olivia Owens is from Lexington, NC. She holds a BS in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Prior to joining the RCHS faculty in 2023, Olivia taught at Wake Preparatory Academy and worked with elementary school students at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham. She is passionate about wildlife conservation and education. Outside of school, Olivia enjoys reading novels, making art, and birding.

Scott Caudill earned a BS in Biology with an ecology emphasis from Baylor University and a BS in Science Education from North Carolina State University. He taught previously at Cary High School.

Tom Ricci is a native of Putnam Valley, a small town in New York’s Hudson Valley. While an undergraduate at the University at Buffalo studying chemistry, he worked as a physics lab instructor, peer mentor, and tutor to NCAA athletes. Following graduation from Buffalo, he decided to pursue a master’s degree in Adolescent Education at Hunter College in New York City. Upon completion of the degree and a teacher licensure program, he moved to Raleigh and taught at Longleaf School of the Arts for eight years before joining the faculty at RCHS. Mr. Ricci believes strongly in the merit of the Oxford comma.

Troy K. Weaver earned his undergraduate degree in Biology and Religion from Duke University, an MAT in Science Education from UNC-Chapel Hill, and is currently working on his Triangle-trifecta by completing a Doctorate in Educational Administration and Supervision at NC State. He has taught all areas of science, but is most passionate about Biology, Chemistry, and Forensic Science. Mr. Weaver has taught in public schools, a juvenile detention center, and at several area independent schools, most recently at Cary Academy.

Whit Hames has taught in Moriyama, Japan, at Eastern Wayne High School in Goldsboro, and at Southeast Raleigh High School, where he was division leader for science. He has a BS in Biology from Michigan State University and an MS in Biology from James Madison University.