San Jose, CA, October 19, 2021 - The Moreland School District is proud to announce that two district teachers were selected as recipients of the 2021 Texas Instrument STEM Teaching Award. Third-grade teacher Satomi Fujikawa from Country Lane Elementary School and sixth-grade math/science teacher Joseph Sinn from Easterbrook Discovery School (EDS) were selected as two of only five exemplary teachers from throughout Santa Clara County for this prestigious award.
The Texas Instruments STEM Teaching Award honors Santa Clara County public school teachers for their outstanding contributions in the subject of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Nominated by their principals, each applicant was subjected to a rigorous application process, reviewed by a panel of experts at the Santa Clara County Office of Education.
Satomi Fujikawa implements STEM learning throughout her 3rd-grade curriculum, making it an integral part of what she teaches. Through leading professional development sessions that support the implementation of science into the classroom and being a mentor to new teachers, Satomi encourages her colleagues to pair ingenuity and creativity, giving them concrete examples of her co-curricular STEM lessons that can lead to new ideas and innovations. During Family Science Nights at Country Lane, Satomi leads the conversation on climate change and its effect on the community and the world. Taking it one step further, Satomi developed a unit for Kindergarten - 5th grade students that integrate science and language arts, with steps for students and classes to take action on climate change at the end of the lesson.
Joseph Sinn has continuously advanced the contributions of STEM education at Easterbrook Discovery School, giving a whole new perspective and voice to students who need this hands-on approach to learning. As part of a four-member STEAM team at EDS, Joseph has led and developed an adaptable STEM program for students in middle school that has been infused in both general and special education classroom curriculum. Joseph also supports students in becoming leaders by guiding them to bring STEM to various community-building events at school. Through Joseph’s student leadership program, students build catapults that are launched at the school’s widely-attended carnival night or annual Open House event for families and the community, supporting students to lead peers, parents, and the community in hot wheel track design, catapults, coding, and marble roller coaster tracks.
“Moreland’s teaching staff is incredibly gifted and dedicated to student success,” said Dr. Clover Codd, Moreland School District’s Superintendent. “We are incredibly proud that Satomi and Joseph’s work is being recognized. Their innovation and hands-on work will have a lasting impact on their students.”
Each STEM award winner will receive a cash award of $500 from Texas Instruments, as well as an opportunity to attend a free professional development course offered by the Santa Clara County Office of Education. All five Texas Instrument Award winners will be recognized at the Santa Clara County Office of Education 51st Annual Teacher Recognition Celebration held next Thursday, October 28 at 7 p.m. at the Corinthian Grand Ballroom in San Jose.