Elementary school science teacher Seema Naik has been named one of Florida’s top teachers in 2023. Photo credit: Florida Department of Education
I always enjoy sharing stories about exceptional educators who have earned accolades for their work in the classroom. One of these is Seema Naik, an elementary school science teacher from Broward County, Florida. In 2023 she was named one of Florida’s top teachers. In fact, she was recognized as one of five finalists for her state’s Teacher of the Year.
Seema inaugurated her career in public schools more than ten years ago when she became a volunteer in her daughter’s classroom. She went on to become a cafeteria aide, and then accepted a position as a teacher’s assistant. “And then I realized the reward that I was getting, the pure joy that I was getting, was being around the children, and I began teaching,” Seema revealed. “I love working with kids,” she says. “Teaching is my destiny. I want to make a difference for my students,” she continued.
Today, Seema teaches fourth grade at Eagle Ridge Elementary School in Coral Springs, Florida. In her classroom, she blends innovative project-based learning with research-based instructional strategies to motivate her students. Born into a family of musicians from India, Seema regularly uses music as a teaching aide. She creates songs and chants with lyrics that incorporate her curriculum. In addition, she is passionate about teaching STEM subjects. In fact, in 2017, she founded her school’s first Robotics Club, and she continues to serve as the advisor for the group today.
Seema comes to the classroom with an extensive background in science. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in Vadodara, India, in 1984. She earned her Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Toronto in Canada in 1991. Additionally, she has completed the requirements for Alternative Certification for Educators from the Teaching and Leadership Center at Florida Atlantic University. In addition to her honors from the Florida Department of Education, she was named Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) Teacher of the Year at the 2022 Caliber Awards Ceremony.
