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.