Chanda Jefferson
Chanda Jefferson (Columbia, South Carolina) is a Science Department Chair, STEM Lead, and Secondary Life Sciences teacher at Fairfield Central High School in Winnsboro, South Carolina. She taught in the public schools of South Carolina for ten years where she was also named the 2020 South Carolina Teacher of the Year. In 2021, Ms. Jefferson received the National Education Association Award for Teaching Excellence, a prestigious award which highlighted her dedication to the teaching profession, community engagement, professional development, attention to diversity and advocacy for fellow educators. Most recently she served as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow in the House of Representatives for Congressman Mark DeSaulnier. As a legislative assistant, she managed the team’s educational portfolio and several critical issues including early childhood, K‐12, and higher education, health and human services, science and technology, and civil rights and race relations. She took on an active role in developing and promoting legislation to address constituents' concerns related to the pandemic, most notably addressing issues regarding student loan forgiveness, providing funding for children and families with disabilities, safely reopening schools, and policy actions to dismantle systemic racism. Ms. Jefferson attended the University of South Carolina where she earned her BS in Biological Sciences and MT in Secondary Sciences. She also earned an Ed. M. in Public School Building Leadership at Columbia University. In 2018, Ms. Jefferson worked with the National Institute of Health and National Human Genome Research Institute as a network partner for a special 15th Anniversary DNA Day Celebration; contributing expertise in reviewing and curating genomics educational resources for other educators and students, leading to the Governor of South Carolina issuing an official proclamation for DNA Day in South Carolina. Ms Jefferson has developed an ongoing partnership with the National Human Genome Research Institute and serves as a member of their STEM Educator Committee where she was a featured seminar speaker for a series on the “Bold Predictions for Human Genomics by 2030”.
Ms. Jefferson has received many honors and notable fellowships throughout her career that focused on gaining access to STEM resources and opportunities for teachers and students including; the Princeton University Molecular Biology Institute, NASA Airborne Research Experience for Educators, Siemen’s STARs Institute at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She was one of three teachers to receive the Amazon Educator Academy Scholarship and was invited by Harvard to speak at the 74th Annual Society of Developmental Biology Conference. A strong advocate for public education, Ms. Jefferson served as an Academy Teacher for an organization dedicated to defend the interests of children in public education and pursue transformative policy reform. To assist educational leaders with transitioning back to school during the coronavirus pandemic, she served on the South Carolina Department of Education AccelerateEd Task Force and worked with the Southern Regional Education Board’s Education Recovery Task Force to develop a playbook with actions for states, districts and schools to consider as they planned for reopening schools for the 2020-2021 school year. Ms. Jefferson believes that “all students can learn science,” and for students to learn, she must exhibit that science is part of their everyday life experience. Using the ideals of the constructivist theory, she uses hands-on activities to cater to each student’s individual learning styles and incorporates social media, scientific modeling, inquiry, and STEM techniques in her lessons. She continues to use real-world science experiences to actively engage students and inspire them to become future leaders in STEM fields. Ms. Jefferson serves as an ambassador for teachers and engages with educators across the country encouraging them to use their stories, their students' stories, and their voices to advocate for positive change in education.
Ms. Jefferson has received many honors and notable fellowships throughout her career that focused on gaining access to STEM resources and opportunities for teachers and students including; the Princeton University Molecular Biology Institute, NASA Airborne Research Experience for Educators, Siemen’s STARs Institute at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She was one of three teachers to receive the Amazon Educator Academy Scholarship and was invited by Harvard to speak at the 74th Annual Society of Developmental Biology Conference. A strong advocate for public education, Ms. Jefferson served as an Academy Teacher for an organization dedicated to defend the interests of children in public education and pursue transformative policy reform. To assist educational leaders with transitioning back to school during the coronavirus pandemic, she served on the South Carolina Department of Education AccelerateEd Task Force and worked with the Southern Regional Education Board’s Education Recovery Task Force to develop a playbook with actions for states, districts and schools to consider as they planned for reopening schools for the 2020-2021 school year. Ms. Jefferson believes that “all students can learn science,” and for students to learn, she must exhibit that science is part of their everyday life experience. Using the ideals of the constructivist theory, she uses hands-on activities to cater to each student’s individual learning styles and incorporates social media, scientific modeling, inquiry, and STEM techniques in her lessons. She continues to use real-world science experiences to actively engage students and inspire them to become future leaders in STEM fields. Ms. Jefferson serves as an ambassador for teachers and engages with educators across the country encouraging them to use their stories, their students' stories, and their voices to advocate for positive change in education.
Sessions Offered
Be the Light
This is a motivational session that incorporates storytelling, conversation, peer- collaboration, and design thinking protocols to develop initiatives for engaging students from historically underserved communities. The facilitator will share how a ride with a community resident and a community data audit enhanced her classroom instruction and led to the development of new school programs. Participants will leave with resources to develop engaging programs in their schools, classrooms, and/or communities.
Federal STEM Tool 101
Learn with an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator as she shares lessons, applications, and innovative ideas in STEM that the federal government has available for education. She will share stories of successful lessons designed around STEM that integrate engagement for all students. Participants will be able to walk away with usable strategies and information to help them facilitate and advocate for diverse and inclusive STEM/STEAM programs at their school, district, or organization. Some of the topics will discuss makerspace activities, coding, design thinking, and using primary sources with students throughout elementary, middle, and high school. She will also provide suggestions to help educators implement these ideas for hybrid or distance learning models as well.
Learning Reimagined - Innovative Tools for Virtual Learnin
This session will provide educators with virtual learning tools and strategies to meet the needs of students at different levels. You will identify common barriers while administering virtual instruction and solutions to technology challenges. Each participant will leave with innovative strategies and activities to engage students in virtual learning environments. This presentation was initially presented to STEM teachers, but can be adapted for all subjects and grade levels.
Light Up The Room
Do you need new instructional strategies to create experiences in your classroom? Light up the room is a session that teaches educators about the brain, explores the neuroscience of learning, and provides research-based strategies to make classroom lessons and units memorable. The facilitator will share brain-based tools, instructional strategies, and activities to appeal to a wide variety of learners. She will also provide scientific research on how the brain learns to increase student achievement, confidence, and success.
Self-Awareness Training
When is the last time that you felt stressed? What was your body’s reaction? In the session, participants will explore the Science of Stress and the body’s physiological responses. The facilitator leads participants through mindfulness exercises based on the powerful practices of MindKindness and helps participants develop strategies to improve their quality of life. This presentation can be adapted for educational leaders, teachers, and student groups.
Teaching Biology - Best Practice from a Veteran Biology Teacher
Are you looking for strategies to increase student achievement on the Biology I EOC? This session will help teachers more effectively set the pacing for Biology I courses, deliver biology content, and develop personalized academic interventions to meet the needs of students at different levels. Each participant will leave with simple strategies and activities that they can successfully employ.
