Parish Episcopal School Director of STEM Education Jennifer “Jenn” Makins has been selected as one of seven finalists vying for a chance to speak at the inaugural Extra Yard for Teachers Summit. The summit - an event designed to celebrate and inspire North Texas teachers - is part of College Football Playoff programming that culminates with the National Championship Game to be played at Cowboys Stadium January 12.
From now through December 10, her video submission will be on TheITeachProject.com microsite for public voting. The videos capture the voices and stories of teachers across North Texas about breakthrough moments in the classroom. The teacher whose video receives the most votes will be invited to speak at the Extra Yard for Teachers Summit on January 10.
Jenn Makins is responsible for Parish Episcopal School’s strategic STEM initiative (PreK – 12th grade). Her role includes managing the School’s Design Den maker spaces, coaching the Upper School NASA Human Exploration Rover team, as well as teaching Middle School STEM electives. Prior to joining the faculty at Parish, she was the Education Associate for NASA’s Exploration System Mission Directorate (ESMD) at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. where she contributed to the strategic management of ESMD’s education portfolio. She has presented at numerous education conferences, represented NASA as a panelist at the 12th annual FAA Commercial Space Transportation Conference, and her Masters team paper titled “Space Agencies in Low Income Countries: Effects on Development” was selected for presentation at the 60th International Astronautical Congress in Daejeon, South Korea. She also consults for SMU’s Caruth Engineering Education Institute, and USA TODAY Education. In 2012, she was recognized as one of the Siemen’s Foundation STEM Fellows. Makins holds a M.A. in International Science & Technology Policy, from The George Washington University Space Policy Institute and a B.S. in Kinesiology from Texas A&M University.
The Summit is part of the College Football Playoff philanthropic initiative, Extra Yard for Teachers, which aims to make a significant impact in the classroom. The initiative supports teachers through the development and implementation of programs in four focus areas: direct provision of resources for classroom needs, recognition of standout teachers, professional development and leadership training, and by providing inspiration for grade-school students to attend college in the future.
To view Jenn’s video submission and vote, go to: http://theiteachproject.com/portfolios/jennifer-makins-my-experiences-teaching/
To view the other six submissions, go to: http://theiteachproject.com/portfoliosets/vote/.