During the 2016-17 school year, Schools That Can NYC is teaming up with MakerState to spread maker education across schools. Thanks to a generous grant from the Pinkerton Foundation, we were able to more than triple the scope of our STC Maker Fellows program, which trains and supports teachers to run STEAM-focused, student-centered, mastery-based makerspaces in their schools. This year, the program is being implemented in 6 schools across New York City, including 3 district schools, 2 charter schools, and 1 independent/faith-based school. More than 360 young engineers in grades 3-8 are benefiting from these innovative program.
The 12 Fellows collectively have over 100 years of teaching experience and are excited to push their practices and try out new pedagogical approaches. They came together in September for their first training, which focused on maker education and TinkerCAD, a 3D design and printing program. Read about the Fellows below!
Bronx Community Charter School
K-7 | Charter | Bronx
Kim McLeveign
Fellow: Kim McLeveign
Grade/Subject: 3-5 Math Intervention Years Teaching: 16
College: Smith College Major: Music
Why are you excited to be an STC Maker Fellow? I’m excited to learn new skills that I can use to help increase opportunities for my students.
A fun fact about you… I learned to ride a bike 4 years ago! Next up – swimming!
Christy Crawford
Fellow: Christy Crawford
Grade/Subject: K-7 Technology Years Teaching: 13
College: LaSalle University Major: Broadcast Journalism
If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be? Kids TV producer/host
Why are you excited to be an STC Maker Fellow? I want my children to have solid engineering skills; to create powerful, helpful things at home
Cornerstone Academy for Social Action
6-8 | District | Bronx
Lavonne “Coach” Hunter
Fellow: Lavonne Hunter (aka “Coach”)
Grade/Subject: 6th STEAM Years Teaching: 12
College: Hunter College (CUNY) Major: Special Honors/Psychology
Why did you decide to become a teacher? I left the neurobiology lab to promote the growth mindset among inner city learners to inspire self-efficacy and scientific thinking/being
If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be? A brain tool R&D master! Creating tools for teachers/parents/students to learn brain science
A fun fact about you… I’m a jewelry maker
Dawnette Phelps
Fellow: Dawnette Phelps
Grade/Subject: 7th STEAM Years Teaching: 14
College: Elizabeth City State University Major: Biology/Pre-Med
Why did you decide to become a teacher? I had a teacher that I loved and admired. I wanted to be like her. She was inspirational for me.
Why are you excited to be an STC Maker Fellow? My kids will be excited! Anything that will be a resource for them, and will grow them academically, excites me. I look forward to my growth so I can better help them.
A fun fact about you… This year I opted to teach a chorus elective. I’m not a singer but my kids love to sing/perform and I wanted to provide a space for that. Wish us luck!
PS 359 Concourse Village Academy
K-5 | District | Bronx
Mayra Negron
Fellow: Mayra Negron
Grade/Subject: ESL Specialist Years Teaching: 14
College: Sarah Lawrence City College Major: Liberal Arts/TESOL
If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be? Economist/Historian/Folklorist
A fun fact about you… I love sci-fi
Beatriz Perez
Fellow: Beatriz Perez
Grade/Subject: K-3 Science Years Teaching: 14
College: City College Major: Education/History/ESL
Why did you decide to become a teacher? It was part of my childhood – 4 of my aunts are teachers
Why are you excited to be an STC Maker Fellow? I would love to learn new strategies to help my students learn new concepts.
Cornelia Connelly Center
4-8 | Independent/Faith-Based | Manhattan
Sarah Ali
Fellow: Sarah Ali
Grade/Subject: 4th Grade Years Teaching: 2
College: Fordham University Major: Communications
Why did you decide to become a teacher? To help students feel confident and succeed so that they don’t have the same experience I had in school.
If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be? A tennis coach
A fun fact about you… I’m from Egypt and Morocco
Lily Daniels
Fellow: Lily Daniels
Grade/Subject: 5th Grade Years Teaching: 1
College: University of Redlands Major: Environmentalist Policy
If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be? A dog-walker
Why are you excited to be an STC Maker Fellow? To learn/collaborate WITH students and other teachers and to do project-based learning
A fun fact about you… I have the same birthday as my little sister!
PS 307 Pioneer Academy
K-5 | District | Queens
Ivonne Cintron
Fellow: Ivonne Cintron
Grade/Subject: K-5 Technology Years Teaching: 9
College: Hunter College (CUNY) Major: Childhood Education
Why did you decide to become a teacher? I love working with kids. I enjoy being in a classroom and supporting and opening new concepts to students
If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be? A writer for a travel magazine
A fun fact about you… I ran the NYC marathon
Ryan “Rye Rye” Elem
Fellow: Ryan Elem (aka “Rye Rye”)
Grade/Subject: 3rd-4th Social Studies Years Teaching: 11
College: St. Joseph’s Major: History
Why did you decide to become a teacher? Because I do not enjoy business or work related to money. I figured teaching was the best way to share the things I enjoy with kids, like history.
Why are you excited to be an STC Maker Fellow? I am excited because I enjoy working with technology and on creative projects and I think my students are going to be very excited.
VOICE Charter School
K-8 | Charter | VOICE Charter School
Ben Coleman
Fellow: Ben Coleman
Grade/Subject: 6th Grade Years Teaching: 4
College: Connecticut College Major: East Asian Studies
Why did you decide to become a teacher? I love lightbulb moments. I love teaching people things I’m passionate about.
Why are you excited to be an STC Maker Fellow? I’m excited to get to teach in a way that I was never taught.
A fun fact about you… I can speak Japanese
Sarah Sheinfeld
Fellow: Sarah Sheinfeld
Grade/Subject: 6th-8th Science Years Teaching: 1
College: University of Vermont Major: Environmentalist Science
Why did you decide to become a teacher? To provide students with many paths to choose from! To be an advocate for my students! To share my passion for science!
If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be? A farmer
A fun fact about you… I have 4 siblings