Author Archives: Terry Lee Marzell
Idaho teacher Dr. Kellie Taylor garners 2022 AIAA STEM Educator Award
Dr. Kellie Taylor, a teacher from Boise, Idaho, has earned a coveted 2022 Trailblazing STEM Educator Award from the Challenger Center and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Photo credit: Idaho News
Many hardworking educators earn accolades for their create innovative STEM programs. One of these is Dr. Kellie Taylor, an elementary school teacher from Idaho whose innovative curriculum garnered her a coveted 2022 Trailblazing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Educator Award from the Challenger Center and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). This annual award celebrates five K-12 educators from around the country who have gone above and beyond to nurture the next generation of innovators in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Kellie teaches second and third graders in the Gifted and Talented program at Hawthorne Elementary in Boise. During her entire 19-year career, the honored educator has prioritized STEM subjects in her classroom. She emphasizes project-based learning with a strong focus on coding, robotics, space education, and hands-on learning. In addition, she leads STEM curriculum development, hosts STEM-focused after-school activities, and shares her passion for STEM education by leading professional development workshops for her colleagues.
Kellie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 2004, her Master’s degree in Educational Technology in 2006, and her PhD in Educational Technology in 2016, all from Boise State University. In addition to her Trailblazing honors, she was also selected an Albert Einstein distinguished Educator Fellow in 2019. In this role, she collaborated with the Educational Outreach program of the Library of Congress. She has also worked for three years as a STEM Master Teacher at the Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC.
As part of her AAIA award, Kellie received $5,000, and an additional $5,000 went to her school. In addition, she received free access to Challenger Center STEM programming, which supplements classroom lessons through Earth and space-themed journeys. The programming includes hands-on, simulated learning experiences; Center Missions delivered at Challenger Learning Centers around the globe; Virtual Missions delivered by Challenger Learning Center Flight Directors; and digital experiences delivered by teachers in their classrooms. To learn more about the Trailblazer Award, click on this link to AIAA.
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Florida teacherJennifer Jaso encourages innovative projects
Florida Social Studies teacher Jennifer Jaso encourages her students to create innovative projects to demonstrate their knowledge of democratic processes. Photo credit: Florida Department of Education
There are many fine educators working in public schools in the Sunshine State of Florida. One of these is Jennifer Jaso, a middle school social studies teacher. She encourages her students to create innovative projects to demonstrate their knowledge of democratic processes.
Jennifer teaches social studies to sixth, seventh, and eighth graders at Sarasota Middle School in Sarasota, Florida. This Chalkboard Champion is highly-regarded for her ability to build relationships with students and working with them to develop critical thinking skills amid content knowledge.
“I want my students to know their role as citizens,” declares Jennifer. “I’m here to help them become contributing members of society and prepared for whatever they face when they leave my classroom,” she continues. “If we want our country to resemble the democracy that our forefathers spent many hours, days and years creating as they worked toward a more perfect union of states, we have got to keep our people informed and participating,” she concludes.
To this end, Jennifer encourages her students to use a variety of ways to demonstrate their knowledge of democratic processes. They can create a website, write a paper with footnotes, design a documentary-style movie, sing or act in a performance, or create a museum-style exhibit with 3D models and lights.
In a career that has spanned a total of 18 years, her teaching experience includes teaching assignments that involve students in Montessori, Gifted and Talented, Title I, and virtual learning environments. She also serves as her school’s Social Studies Department Chair and was a professional learning community leader.
In addition to her work in the classroom, Jennifer is an educational trainer and consultant specializing in classroom management. She is the District Co-ordinator for her District’s National History Day, and she is a co-founder and Executive Board Member of the Florida Council for History Education, a nonprofit dedicated to the advocacy of history in education. She has also presented many times at the National Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference and at the Florida Council for the Social Studies Conference.
For her work as an educator, Jennifer has earned many accolades. She was named the 2022 Sarasota County Middle School Teacher of the Year, the 2022 District Teacher of the Year for Sarasota County Schools, and a 2023 Florida Teacher of the Year Top Five Finalist.
Jennifer earned her Bachelor’s degree in Social Studies from Florida State University in 2003. She earned her Mater’s degree in Secondary Social Studies Education from the University of South Florida in 2006. She completed the requirements for her PhD in Teaching and Learning with a concentration in American History from Argosy University in 2014.
To read more about this amazing educator, see this article about her published by the Herald-Tribune.
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Sp Ed teacher Christine Galvan-Manzello earns NYC 2023 Big Apple Award
Elementary Special Education teacher Christine Galvan-Manzello has earned a 2023 New York City Big Apple Award. Photo credit: New York City Public Schools
The city of New York is very proud of their public school teachers. In fact, city educational leaders regularly recognize exceptional teachers with their annual Big Apple Award. In 2023, one of the educators so honored was Christine Galvin-Manzello, a Special Education teacher from Queens.
Christine works with fifth graders in an Autism Spectrum Disorder program at PS 91 Richard Arkwright. In her classroom, she supports her students’ academic and social-emotional needs to foster their growth as learners and citizens. And she works diligently to make her classroom very safe and very personal. ”I try to connect with them on a personal level,” the honored teacher explains. “I am good at cracking jokes. I get messages from parents —they are so happy to be going to school every day,” Christine continues. “I try to make them believe they can be anything they set their mind to. I love celebrating small moments with each other,” she asserts.
Christine honors the special gifts of her students. She encourages them to take part in school community activities such as student government, debate, and music programs, which help build confidence and leadership skills.
In addition to her work with students, Christine contributes to the school community through her weekly case conferences with teachers, paraprofessionals, and service providers and by facilitating meetings with school staff members and families about how to best support students with ASD. She also conducts professional development for her school community.
The Big Apple Award was presented to 20 New York City teachers. Each one was nominated by their principal for work in the profession that inspires students, models great teaching, and enriches school communities. The recipients were chosen through a rigorous selection process that includes community nominations, principal recommendations, classroom visits, an interview, and a review by a board of judges. To learn more about the program and this year’s recipients, click on this link to Big Apple Awards.
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DC STEM teacher Rabiah Harris earned prestigious PAEMST
Middle school STEM teacher Rabiah Harris of Washington, DC, has earned a prestigious 2023 PAEMST (Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching). Photo credit: Rabiah Harris
It is always a pleasure to recognize exemplary teachers who have earned accolades for their work in the profession. Today we celebrate middle school teacher Rabiah Harris of Washington, DC. She has garnered a prestigious 2023 PAEMST (Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching).
The PAEMST recognizes the dedication, hard work, and importance that America’s teachers play in supporting learners who will become future STEM professionals, including computer technologists, climate scientists, mathematicians, innovators, space explorers, and engineers. The PAEMST program, founded in 1983, is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The honor comes with a visit to the White House and a $10,000 cash prize.
In a career that has spanned ten years, Rabiah has worked the past two of them at Ida B. Wells Middle School in Washington, DC. She also serves as the Science Department Chair there. Prior to her position at Wells, she taught at Jefferson Middle School Academy, Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School, and Kelly Miller High School, all schools that are part of the District of Columbia Public Schools System.
Rabiah says the work she does on her campus enables her to make a significant contribution to improving student learning. “It all boils down to the fact that I love to help others, peers and students, and will do that in any and everywhere I can!” she declares. “It’s fun to be a part of such a strong community as the middle school has,” she continues.
Rabiah earned her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Howard University in 2004. She earned her Master’s degree in Secondary Science Education in 2005. She completed the requirements for her PhD in STEM Education from the University of Pittsburgh in 2018. In addition to her PAEMST, Rabiah garnered a Shell Urban Science Teacher Award from National Science Teachers Association in 2020.
