STEM Education
Lauren Niemann (2010 Cohort) teaches a self-designed Environmental Science class at Fern Creek in Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS). Below she shares some of the exciting work she’s currently leading in JCPS, while raising young children with husband and fellow TKY alumn, Jacob Reed (2009).
Jessie: My experience working as a scientist in San Francisco very much impacts my work, because I look at the students’ experiences in the classroom as preparation for jobs later. I want to help them be successful with real skills.
For Adam, part of being able to push students to those deeper levels has meant providing his visually impaired students with authentic opportunities to experiment and to experience labs through their own senses. “My current students have more significant needs [than did my students in mainstream public schools], so I’ve had to adapt my instruction to meet them where they are.”
Teach Kentucky third-year teacher, Sara Meierding (2014 TKY cohort) now leads the Digital Promise Verizon Innovative Learning school grant at Shawnee Middle School in Jefferson County Public Schools. Sara has worked to leverage the TKY network to support her students’ learning, engagement, access and motivation at Shawnee Middle.
Teach Kentucky’s impact is growing as this year marks the first time a student of a Teach Kentucky teacher has gone on to enter the program herself. Launi Brown is a member of the newest Teach Kentucky cohort, and a former Western High School student of Aubrey Holle, a member of Teach Kentucky’s 2012 cohort.
Teach Kentucky will be commemorating its 15-year anniversary at a private event at the Louisville Water Tower Park on Thursday evening. The organization has brought 272 top college grads to teach in underserved middle and high school public classrooms, according to a news release.
Guest bloggers and second year teachers Olivia Carner and Lizz Weir share the top 10 reasons they think people should join Teach Kentucky as teachers who have fun and make a difference.