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STEM Teachers: Who are they? What do they do? Why do they do it?

STEM Teachers: by Mary Gray

             STEM became a catchphrase in the early 2000’s. Christenson (2011) credits Judith Ramaley for coining the term STEM in 2001. I had already been teaching science courses for about 15 years as a graduate student, Junior College instructor and high school teacher. When I first heard the term, I had to ask someone what is STEM?   Afterwards, I thought to myself, I am STEM and have been all my life. My description of a STEM teacher is anyone who conveys knowledge to others involving science, technology, engineering and math. The setting can be formal or informal, on any educational level and covers all walks of life. Everyone is exposed to one STEM facet or another daily. It can be something as simple as washing your hands with soap and water or as complicated as leaving your home, traveling by automobile to the airport, flying to a foreign country on a jet airplane, and reaching your final destination via horse and buggy. How does soap remove dirt from our hands and clothes? H
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Learning Facilitator

Good morning Envisioneers. My name is Dr. Jessica Johnson. I have been a science educator since 2008. I am not a traditional route teacher and had to go back to school to understand how to teach and facilitate learning. Knowing science wasn’t and will not be enough for the future. Students will need to be able to demonstrate their knowledge.  With that in mind, I started a math and science club back when I was in the classroom and partnered with various colleges to help better prepare our future scientists for what was to become. I’ve been to robotics trainings and even had my students participate in these programs. However, robotics was just a start. Where are the STEM skills needed in 10-20 years? So what we expose our students (STEM skills must be relevant for 10 plus years ahead of the present. Science is vastly changing.  Now, I work in the capacity of a teacher trainer to help them guide students in this direction.  I hope this helps.  Working with Excellence in Mind, Dr. Jessica
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Love the Unlovable

  STEM’s Influence on My Teaching Cassandra Orishaniyi – Online Science Instructor with Edmentum My journey as a science instructor started in 1989 at Vicksburg High School. I taught biology, consumer science (which is what we call physical science today) and a resource science class in which I cotaught with a special education teacher. I moved to Memphis, TN after getting married and over a span of twenty years I taught many science disciplines such as physical science, biology, chemistry, principles of technology (physics applications for career technical students), and engineering technical education. I became a teacher because of injustices I witnessed as a kindergarten teacher assistant.  As a career technical teacher, I learned the principles of STEM before the term was even coined. As a result of the type courses I was teaching, I was able to incorporate critical thinking, problem solving, and research skills. Many students who were problems in other classes were intrigued by th
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Cyber Foundations

  1. STEM teachers are educators looking to enhance students' ability to become successful, productive adults. We also rise from various disciplines to accept the challenge. 2. We work to engage our learners and keep ourselves updated on the many rapidly changing techno trends. 3. STEM teachers go the extra mile for the love of children. Latonda Beasley Cyber Foundations Carver Middle School                           Envisioneers team member learning how to code an autonomous program (JDC High School student) 3D Printer                                                                          
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NASA ASTRO Camp

  Morgan Necaise is an Education and Data Specialist for the NASA Astro Camp Community Partners (ACCP) Program. Before joining the ACCP, Morgan was a Special Education Department Head, lead Special Education teacher, and Head Athletic Coach in Maui, Hawai'i. Throughout Ms. Necaise's ten years of experience as a professional educator, she has been able to follow her passion for teaching and coaching in unique places, like the islands of Hawai'i and coastal Mississippi. During her years of teaching and coaching in college, she discovered the passion and importance of STEM and pursued an interest in education beyond athletics and sports.   As an Education and Data Specialist, Ms. Necaise supports departmental efforts that benefit the teaching and learning mission of the NASA ACCP Program. THE NASA ACCP program is an opportunity for all Youth Service Organizations to bring NASA STEM Engagement-Science Mission activities to grades K-12 in their community.  In addition to collect
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Polymer Science

    I’m Heather Broadhead, and I teach Polymer Science and Engineering at The University of Southern Mississippi.  My goal as an educator is to develop lifelong learners.  I love to learn!  I love science!  Having the opportunity to teach new generations of scientific scholars is the most rewarding career I could imagine.  There was not a specific time in my educational career when I decided that I wanted to become a teacher, but I have had many amazing teachers and mentors who have guided me along the way.  They not only taught me the fundamentals of math, science, and communication, they also challenged me to think critically and solve problems in new frontiers of research.  They gave me the type of confidence that I strive to encourage in my students.  I noticed that even as a graduate student, mentoring undergraduates was one of the most fulfilling aspects of my graduate work.  While I was a postdoc, I had the opportunity to teach a few polymer science courses as an adjunct profess
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Program Coordinator

  Adrine R. Williams  I am the Program Coordinator at The JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY. I oversee the Pedagogies and Learning for Underrepresented minority students using novel Tools in Online STEM Education (PLUTO-STEM) program. The workshop sessions will provide professional development training on the effective use of quality curriculum materials, using instructional technology. In aggregate as a curriculum, as well as in daily outlines, the Summer Institute workshop sessions will align with science objectives for grades 5-12.  -- Adrine R. Williams  Program Coordinator  Department of Chemistry, Physics, and Atmospheric Sciences  (601) 979-2595; office
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Ray Holt, The Accidental Engineer

  STEM Teachers: Who Are They? What do they do? Why do they do it?  My name is Ray Holt. I’m an engineer, computer scientist, and educator by education and  experience. I have over 40 years of experience designing, programming, and applying  computer technology to applications such as aerospace, robotics, and manufacturing.  I have been in Mississippi for twelve years and nine years ago I founded STEM Advancement Inc, dba Mississippi Robotics, a 501-c-3 non-profit organization to teach STEM to low income,  disadvantaged students and to teach their teachers. STEM Advancement reaches 3 rd – 12 th grades through many programs such as; camps, after school, Saturday’s, and competitions. We  have reached over 3000 students and over 500 STEM teachers all over Mississippi with our  actions. We reach public, private, and home schools. We have an intensive on-line STEM course  for 7 th – 12 th grades.  Our STEM curriculum is designed around industry skills called Employable Skills which include
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Life Sciences

  Peggy Flynn/Biological Science Teacher My name is Peggy Flynn, and I am a biological science teacher in Holly Springs MS. at Holly Spring High School which is a public school district. I obtained this position in1999 at Simmons High School in Hollandale, MS. My degree is in biological science with a minor in chemistry. A few years later I obtained a master’s degree in environmental health sciences.      Therefore, I love teaching the biological sciences. I teach this subject because it gives students interested in medical and healthcare fields the basic background they need in order to accomplish their goals. My class is the beginning of their career. The students are introduced to basic laboratory experiments that allow them to manipulate scientific equipment such as microscopes and the balance scale. They also use a graduated cylinder to measure liquids.  Finally, for the years that I have taught this class I have had many students enter into healthcare and thank me for teaching
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NASA Education Program Specialist, Stennis Space Center

  Maria Lott  NASA Education Program Specialist, Stennis Space Center  Maria Lott is an Education Program Specialist with the Southeast Regional Office of STEM  Engagement where she serves as the NASA ASTRO CAMP® Collaborative Partners, ACCP, Project  Lead, under NASA Science Mission Directorate and Science Activation Infrastructure Programs.   Maria received her B.S. in Science from the University of Southern Mississippi and her M.S. in  Education Curriculum/Leadership from the University of William Carey, Mississippi. She found her  passion in STEM education and leadership, working as math/science educator, Lead Teacher,  Administrator, and Academic Instructional Coach for 33 years. Retiring from public education  allowed her to continue her NASA dream job of 30 years with Stennis Space Center as NASA  Education Program Specialist and Project Lead taking a local NASA program to national and  international program participants. Maria's support for the NASA Robotics Alliance Projec
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High School Science Department Chair

Hello!  I categorize myself as a science teacher/professional.  Although teaching was not my career of choice, it appears that it was the career that was chosen for me.  My specific words going into and graduating college was, "I will never teach anyone's child"; however, I have been teaching on some level for about 25 years.  I have taught at-risk youth science to help them prepare for the General Educational Development (GED) test, middle school science, and science training courses for military personnel.  Currently, I teach high school and college level science courses. I was first introduced to teaching by my junior high school biology teacher.  He would attend UC Berkeley every year for professional development, and he needed someone to sub for him.   I had just completed my undergraduate degree and was home job hunting, so he suggested I sub for him for a week.  That one week spent in the classroom made me change my mind, and I've been teaching ever since.     
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