The STEM Teacher Leadership Video Showcase features 3-minute videos submitted by teacher leaders and those engaged in creating teacher leadership programs. View their inspiring stories and make sure to leave a comment! Share on social media and "like" your favorites!How will you spark the curiosity in the next STEM leader?
STEM education is still not a priority in schools. How can we create STEM leaders in schools to embrace STEM? Watch this video to find ideas and spark the curiosity in the next STEM leader in your district.
I set out to get teachers invested in a shared STEM culture. As a district I wanted teachers to get students immersed into STEM. I wanted teachers to reimagine education. I wanted students to see themselves in STEM. I set out to get our district curriculum and resources that supported a problem based approach to teaching. We worked in PLCs to bring engaging and immersive experiences to students such doing an escape room or a zipline relay. We also embraced project based learning activities where students solve problems such as getting microplastics out of the water, modifying a refrigerator for someone with paralysis and how to reduce the impact of flooding. In the past year we immersed students into STEM days with the goal of getting students to see themselves in STEM even more strongly. We had a construction day where students learned about structure and function while designing a house to withstand a tornado. We had the construction workers who are working on the new school next door come and talk to students. We had an aviation day where students learned about the Civil Air Patrol from officers and participated in aviation activities with them. We then had a hot air balloon pilot come and show students a real hot air balloon. We also had a CSI day where we had students solve the mystery of who stole mountain dew from a teacher’s desk. Students participated in fingerprinting analysis with a police officer, did chemical analysis and questioned the suspects. From these experiences students see themselves as STEM people. We are still working and thriving to get more STEM experience for our students and wanting to immerse themselves into solving problems. The first goal is getting students to see themselves as a STEM person. We need the myth of being a math, science or STEM person out the door. By immersing students into experiences we can start to get all students to see themselves in STEM and the earlier the better!
Comments
So inspiring!
I love the escape rooms and problems based learning. Be the change you wish you see! "contagious energy" --LOVE that! So true. I will definitely check out your links on PBL and share with my colleagues.
In reply to So inspiring! by Kathleen Donovan
Be the Change
Thank you Kathleen! I agree that we need to be the change we wish to see. Let me know if you have any questions after checking out the articles!
Welcome!
Hi! My name is Jenn Donais and I am a STEM Coach in Amesbury, MA. I am so excited to have you watch my video. After you watch I wonder how you have created STEM Leaders in your district or how you plan to in the future?
You are a STEM Leader for sure!
Good Morning
This is a truly a strategic and engaging plan in getting the buy-in and promoting STEM. I will be using some of the great activities shared. Looking forward to taking the challenge and sparking the next STEM leaders.
In reply to You are a STEM Leader for sure!byRuth Ray, M.Ed.
Sparking the Next STEM Leaders
Thank you Ruth! I would love to see how you spark the next STEM leader!
This is truly an amazing…
This is truly an amazing STEM program. I especially liked how you involved other organizations like Civil Air Patrol to offer aviation. Your students are very lucky to have you lead the way!
In reply to This is truly an amazing… by Kaye Ebelt
Involving Organizations
Thank you Kaye! I think getting any organization or career professional in for students to really see how what they are learning fits into the "real-world" is so important! The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is an amazing organization that only costs $35 and they do outreach, offer free STEM kits and you can pilot a plane. For those who haven't heard about CAP or would like to learn more visit their site! https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/programs/aerospace-education/for-educators
Enthusiasm is Contagious
Your enthusiasm is contagious and that s exactly what we need for the profession. Keep share your love and passion science!
In reply to Enthusiasm is Contagious by Sharon Delesbore
Thank you!
Thank you Sharon! I appreciate your comment :)
Theme days
Theme days sound like so much fun! Students look like they are enjoying themselves.
In reply to Theme days by GLORIA KREISCHER GAJEWICZ
Theme Days
Thank you Gloria. Yes, they love immersing themselves into an experience.
On point
I really loved watching your video. Your energy and enthusiasm is on point and you talk about how to really immerse elementary school teachers in STEM to raise their confidence and advocate for it in their classrooms and schools. Keep up the great work especially around those PBL activities and combining those with a demo of STEM careers.
In reply to On point by Dieuwertje Kast
Thanks Dieuwertje! I agree…
Thanks Dieuwertje! I agree the PBL with the STEM careers is vital!
Building a Vision
Love your story but even more you have a natural gift for leadership. I love how you built the vision of elementary STEM programming both systemically and practically. Video was totally engaging. You seem to be in a very sweet spot right now where you have a lot of buy-in. Did the fact that you were a science coach seems like there was support to build this programming. I am wondering how do you think changes in administration could impact your work both positively and negatively?
In reply to Building a Vision by Margo Murphy
Buy-In
Thank you Margo! I think having buy-in at the district and school level is very important. I try to get buy-in from the teachers but also at the administration level. If you have administration on-board and excited for a systematic STEM program I feel that you can only have a successful program with that buy-in.
Amazing enthusiasm and story!
I love your story and enthusiasm, Jenn! Your story is so relatable, as I have worked with many elementary educators who do not see themselves as STEM "experts" and therefore do not feel confident teaching STEM. And I agree, approaching STEM through other teaching methods, such as project-based learning and through escape rooms, has helped inspire curiosity and increase enthusiasm!
Our district also incorporates curiosity and STEM in the library through makerspace. Do have any experience with libraries and makerspaces? I wonder, how can they also help support STEM teaching and learning?
In reply to Amazing enthusiasm and story! by Elegan Kramer
Makerspace
Thank you Elegan! A makerspace was in the works when I started right before COVID but has now been on the back-burner. I think having a makerspace would only create more buy-in! Would love to see how you are using it in your district and start to think of ways we can bring that into my own schools. Thanks.
Your vision and inspiration…
Your vision and inspiration for the teachers you work with is wonderful. Your passion is clear and I am sure that is why teachers follow your lead to become STEM leaders in their schools and district. Well done!
In reply to Your vision and inspiration… by Florence Falatko
Thanks Flo!!
Thanks Flo!!
You are doing it!
Hi Jenn:
This is the good work you do everyday. So important that we model to students what is possible and also the exciting opportunities in becoming a future STEM leader. As always glad to know you and work with you here in MA.
In reply to You are doing it! by Doug Scott
Thanks Doug! Glad I have you…
Thanks Doug! Glad I have you in the state to network with.
Aviation STEM
I love the Aviation STEM Day and bringing a police officer in to do a fingerprinting workshop with students. These are great ideas!
In reply to Aviation STEM by Christine Girtain
Thanks Christine! Having…
Thanks Christine! Having students see how careers are using the concepts we are using the classroom is so important.
It sounds like you really…
It sounds like you really have found ways to encourage student learning. Do you ever have them develop/design escape rooms?
In reply to It sounds like you really… by Jodi Zeis
I haven't had that…
I haven't had that opportunity yet but would love to in the future.
The Why and the How?
In the first moments you defined an ideal student, one that memorizes everything. But the student is missing the how and the why and the application.
STEM so nicely puts the mathematics within the how and the why.
Hi Jenn! This is fantastic!…
Hi Jenn!
This is fantastic! I loved your video and admire ALL that you were able to get include. I love the Escape Room ideas, and I am always looking for new challenges to share with my students. I am working with students as young as 3 years old, and I have the older students help to spark their curiosity and capture what they are seeing and wondering about. I am not far from you, right in Southern NH. It would be wonderful to collaborate!
In reply to Hi Jenn! This is fantastic!… by Rebecca Cummings
I love that you are having…
I love that you are having the older students work with the younger students! I would love to collaborate with you!
Themes..
Thank you for the inspiring video! I love the idea of theme days. I prefer to incorporate the core subjects on themes to bridge the concepts. It would be great if all middle and high schools worked together to teach the theme concept applying to STEM. Maybe in the future, we can see that. It would be great if we have more STEM Learning training. Good Job! :) Diana
In reply to Themes.. by Diana Aston
Thanks Diana. Yes, more…
Thanks Diana. Yes, more STEM training is definitely needed.