Tag Archives: Science Teachers

Sharon Stephen-Buitrago named the 2023 BABSE Broward County Science Teacher of the Year

Posted on by

Sharon Stephen-Buitrago has been named the Broward County Science Teacher of the Year for 2023 by the Broward Alliance of Black School Educators (BABSE). Photo credit: BABSE

Congratulations are due to elementary educator Sharon Stephen-Buitrago. She has been named the Broward County Science Teacher of the Year for 2023 by the Broward Alliance of Black School Educators (BABSE), a division of the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE).

The NABSE is the nation’s foremost non-profit organization devoted to furthering the academic success for American youth, especially children of African descent. Now in year 53 since its founding, NABSE boasts an outreach to more than 10,000 pre-eminent educators including teachers, administrators, and superintendents, as well as corporate and institutional members. Founded in 1970, NABSE is dedicated to improving both the educational experiences and accomplishments of African American youth through the development and use of instructional and motivational methods that increase levels of inspiration, attendance, and overall achievement.

So Sharon is in very good company, indeed. Currently, she serves as a teacher and science coach at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Montessori Academy School, a magnet school of Broward County Public Schools in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Previously she taught fifth grade at Pompano Beach Elementary School in Ft. Lauderdale, where she worked since Aug., 2008. Prior to that, she taught for ten years for Ascension Parish Schools in St. Amant, Louisiana.

Sharon earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 1998 and her Master’s degree in Education in 2007, both from Southeastern Louisiana University. She earned a Certificate in Educational Leadership and Administration from Florida Atlantic University.

To learn more about both BABSE and NABSE, click on this link to BABSE.

Former science teacher Lisa Niver to release her book, Brave-ish

Posted on by

Lisa Niver, a former junior high school science teacher from Los Angeles, California, is a podcaster, sought-after motivational speaker, travel agent, and travel writer. In fact, she has been recognized as one of the top five female travel bloggers. And now, the former teacher is a published author. Her new book, entitled Brave-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless after Fifty, is due to be released on Sept 19, 2023, and is currently on pre-order. To view a five-minute video with Lisa where she discusses her book, click on this link: https://fox5dc.com/video/1265427

Brave-ish chronicles Lisa’s expeditions to far-flung corners of the world, including Vanuatu, Nepal, Myanmar, Cuba, Morocco, Kenya, and Mongolia. But her book is more than a travelogue. Her story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of perseverance. Brave-ish inspires readers to nourish big dreams, take risks, and embrace the unknown in order to create an exciting and wonder-filled life, even when courage seems elusive.

Lisa has published many articles in online and in print magazines, including National Geographic, The Huffington Post, The Guardian, and The Jewish Journal. She was a 2012 nominee for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching. In 2018, she was nominated in three categories of the Southern California Journalism Awards: Science/Technology Reporting; Travel Reporting; and Personality Profile. To learn more about unique travel experiences, check out Lisa’s website at We Said Go Travel.

As for Lisa’s former career as an educator, she is well-known in science teacher circles for her instructional strategies that emphasize the use of technology in the classroom. She’s also noted for using students’ real world connections to explore their passions, and for teaching them to work towards solving today’s most complex issues. In 2009, Lisa founded the Los Angeles Science Teachers Network (LASTN),  a professional development network that by May, 2012, involved over 70 teachers and 40 schools. The effort was praised by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

 

Science teacher Seema Naik named one of Florida’s top teachers

Posted on by

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.

WV STEM teacher Tiffany Pace earns Mission Possible Operation Advance Technology Competition

Posted on by

West Virginia elementary STEM teahe3r Tiffany Pace earns the very first Mission Possible Operation Advance Technology Competition. Photo credit: PAEMST

Congratulations to Tiffany Pace, an elementary school science teacher from West Virginia who has been named the recipient of the very first CIA Mission Possible Operation Advance Technology Competition!

The goal of the Operation Advance Technology Program is to improve education in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) in public schools. The program is managed by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, supported by the Central Intelligence Agency, and funded by the US Department of Energy. Tiffany is one of five winners of the new competition. She was selected to represent the Southeast Region of the United States. The prestigious award comes with a computer and coding lab for her classroom worth $60,000, as well as laptops and other STEM equipment.

Currently, Tiffany teaches third graders at Cross Lanes Elementary School in Charleston. There she leads her students in a partnership with students in a third grade classroom at the Anglo-American School in Managua, Nicaragua. To create a global connection, Tiffany’s students video conference with the students in Managua to compare climates and share photos and stories of about their environments and habitats.

In addition to her instruction in the classroom, Tiffany’s work as a teacher-leader is extensive. She has been a presenter at the NSTA National Conference in St. Louis and the INSTA STEM20 Virtual Conference. She has authored articles and is a reviewer for the NSTA Science and Children Journal. Furthermore, she is a certified educator with National Geographic, an Underwood-Smith Scholars mentor, and a Fuel Up to Play 60 Advisor.

For her work as an educator, Tiffany has garnered many accolades. In 2020 she earned a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). She was also recognized as the West Virginia Environmental Science Teacher of the Year, and in 2022 she was named a Fulbright Teacher for Global Classrooms. Furthermore, she has written and received over $400,000 in grants for educational supplies, STEM materials, technology, gardening materials, healthy eating and physical activity supplies, community outreach programs, and professional development.

Tiffany earned her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Public Relations from West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia, in 1999. She earned her Master’s degree in Education from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, in 2012. Her career as an educator spans more than ten years.

 

NY STEM teacher Xue Qing Liang garners coveted PAEMST award

Posted on by

Science teacher Xue Qing Liang of Brooklyn, New York, has garnered a coveted 2023 PAEMST award. Photo credit: United Federation of Teachers

There are so many talented educators who have earned recognition for their hard work in the classroom. One of these is Xue Qing Liang, a high school science teacher from Brooklyn, New York. She has garnered a coveted 2023 PAEMST award.

The PAEMST, Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, recognize 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 meeting with the President and a $10,000 cash prize.

Xue Qing teaches Chemistry at New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn. She has taught at the school for seven years. In her classroom, the honored teacher incorporates engineering design, role playing, and reflective discussions in her lesson plans. Her students act as investigators and solve a real-world problems. Furthermore, to help minimize language barriers, Xue Qing teaches a Chinese Bilingual Chemistry class.

In addition to her classroom lessons, Xue Qing is involved with her school’s Science Olympiad. Also, she has participated in Math for America where she co-designs environmentally sustainable labs by incorporating the principles of green chemistry. She has also participated in Engineering for Tomorrow, discussing students’ final projects with NASA engineers.

Xue Qing earned her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the College of Staten Island. She earned a Master’s degree in Science Education from CUNY Brooklyn College, and a second Master’s degree in Chinese from Hunter College. She also completed the requirements for an Advanced Certificate in Bilingual Education from Brooklyn College.