Background: 

“My name is Brittany Jefferson and I am a 25 year old, 3rd grade, math and science teacher at Park Elementary School. I graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University with a Bachelors of Science in Early Childhood Education. I am engaged to my Highschool Sweetheart and the father of my two - year old son. So, if I'm not working you can find me at home with my family or hanging out with my mom and sisters. I've known that I wanted to be a teacher since I was old enough to help my mom in her pre-k classroom. What drives me as a teacher is knowing that I am a part of building the foundation for my students’ lives. Being able to provide them with the resources they need to be successful in and outside of the classroom is imperative to me. I hope that with the incorporation of STEM in my classroom, I can help my students to grow in their love for learning and make real-world connections and experiences that last a lifetime.”

Project Name: S.T.E.M.ulate Your Environment

Briefly explain your philosophy on why STEM skills are important for today's students:

“One of my long standing goals as an educator, is to constantly grow in my ability to fully engage my students in the learning process, while providing them with real-world experiences that challenge them to have a Growth Mindset. STEM does all of these things. STEM integrates the knowledge of content learning in a “textbook” with real-world problems these students can truly solve.  While thought provoking and challenging, STEM teaches students to work through their struggle, further embodying what it means to have a Growth Mindset. It transcends to all of the multiple intelligences allowing students the opportunity to demonstrate their strengths and immerse themselves in their learning experience. It teaches students about the careers of the future and to even dream big enough to create a career that doesn't exist yet. All of these things are imperative to the success of today's students and tomorrow's leaders, innovators, and solution-seekers.”

What strategies do you hope to gain from this year?: 

I hope to gain a better understanding of how to fully incorporate STEM in my classroom across all content. I hope to grow in my ability to create problem-driven questions and allow students to be in control of their learning. I want to be able to feel comfortable in my role as the facilitator.

Download their presentation here

The STEM Fellows is a project of the Foundation for East Baton Rouge School System made possible by a generous grant from Capital One. The purpose of the initiative is to establish and support a cadre of “STEM Teaching Fellows” who, armed with content knowledge, innovative teaching strategies, and an entrepreneurial spirit, can support their colleagues and transform EBRPSS schools into institutions of innovative STEM teaching and learning. In 2019, thirteen educators in East Baton Rouge Parish Public School System were named STEM Teaching Fellows.