Below are the words Mr. Sullivan shared with the School Committee last night in recognizing Professor Love for her efforts:
"I
am honored to say a few words regarding Professor Jennifer Love who has made
significant contributions to the Marshfield Education Community. Her influence can be experienced in the STEAM
Labs at our elementary schools, our amazing Club Invention at the elementary schools,
Club Invention Project at FBMS, the new CSTEM lab and Math Application classes at
FBMS, and plans for STEM Lab carts at MES and DWS. Her volunteerism has inspired our educational
community to embrace inquiry based, problem-solving approaches in and out of
the classroom. STEAM (a blending of
science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics in order to solve
real-life problems) is a great way to teach 21st century skills that
will prepare students for the work force and for life. STEAM has energized educators by linking
teachers and students back to that spark of wonder that fuels everything that
is great in education.
Her most recent collaboration with Furnace Brook Middle
School in co-writing a $26,000 MEF grant has offered our students a lab where they
learn the introductory principles of computer programming using the interactive
game and animation application “Scratch,” as well as the Lego Mindstorms Robot
system. Students are presented
engineering design challenges (what is also known as problem-based science)
such as designing a home with varied materials, modeling bridges, and constructing
aerodynamic CO2 cars and pressure rockets. These problems enhance students’ problem-solving skills
and help to foster authentic engineering practices. This grant also provided chrome books for
math applications classes at FBMS.
Jennifer has been a huge influence on the STEAM lab
initiative at South River Elementary, as she initiated and co-wrote the $20,000
MEF grant that allowed South River to establish a STEAM lab. In collaboration with the assistant
principal, principal, and teachers, she has been involved in all aspects of
STEAM at SRS, including: the physical
setting of the lab, ordering furniture, supplies, curriculum materials,
organizing PD for teachers through the Museum of Science, personally providing
PD for teachers (both individually and in groups), and collaborating and
co-teaching with educators at all grade levels to ensure that all students have
access to STEAM education. In addition,
she helped to plan and present the SRS “Spotlight on Excellence” at the May
School Committee meeting.
Jennifer has been an outstanding volunteer at Governor
Winslow School; sharing her time willingly in many ways, including:
·
Beautifying the outside of the building by helping with
landscaping and gardening
·
Coordinating the Pre-school backpack program
·
Leading the STEM lab initiative at GWS and providing
professional development for teachers
·
Teaching at the Club Invention summer program
She continues to support the GWS community by supplying
valuable STEM information.
While her two children attended Eames Way, Jennifer
collaborated with her children’s teachers by volunteering to assist with STEM
activities (Hexbugs and Simple machines).
She collaborated with Peter Van Buskirk on writing MEF grants (two years
consecutively) to provide STEM supplies to EWS.
Jennifer also presented at a EWS spotlight to school committee regarding
STEM presenting the “Kind Hexbug lesson.”
Plans are also currently underway for Jennifer to collaborate
with Martinson Elementary School and Daniel Webster Elementary School to help
create STEM Lab carts. The Martinson and Daniel Webster communities are
very excited for this collaboration.
On behalf of the Principals and the Marshfield Education
Community I want to thank Jennifer Love for her enormous contributions. We are all very fortunate to have Jennifer
Love as a member of our community."
