Jennifer Keene

I love teaching because I love students. I love to help them realize how truly awesome they are and what they are capable of.

Placed 24th

in their group

Thank you for supporting Jennifer Keene in this competition. Your donations and participation will benefit The Planetary Society in their mission to advance space exploration, inspire discovery, and empower the next generation of innovators.

 

Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because I want to inspire curiosity and creativity in our youth. In the industrialized education system that is found throughout our country, curiosity and creativity is often squelched instead of encouraged. I believe this is contrary to what education should be. Throughout my 27 years of teaching experience, I have strived to provide opportunity for students to think critically and creatively, to wonder and inquire, to create and explore. I believe this is true education.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

It's important to me that the student-experience in my class is memorable. There are two quotes from my students that come to mind that sum up the experience that I try to provide in my classroom. An 8th grade student once called out in class, "Every other year I hated science, but now that I'm in your class, science is my favorite subject." I overheard another say, "Ms. Keene is the only reason I get up to come to school every day. No one has ever loved me like she does." This is why I teach.

What would you do with the $25,000?

Union is an alternative middle/high school that services a large population of special needs, low-income, and Hispanic students. We are currently building a STEAM program. The program that we are creating serves as a job internship for our students. It trains our students to mentor and be STEAM instructors for elementary children. I would use the money to development a STEAM lab for this program. As a school in a state that severely underfunds education, programs like this are greatly needed.

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