Jenny McCall of Winburn Middle School is among 10 teachers from eight states chosen for this summer’s National STEM Scholar Program. This professional learning opportunity provides advanced STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) training, national network building, and project support for middle school science teachers.

Created in partnership between the National Stem Cell Foundation and The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science at Western Kentucky University (WKU), the program picks teachers based on their description of a “big idea” Challenge Project they would do in their classroom if funds were available. McCall proposed buying lab equipment that enables her classes to study how DNA could determine what bacteria cause food-borne illness. Students could also design experiments to send to the International Space Station through the Genes in Space competition. “As students are exposed to doing science in the classroom, they will increasingly view themselves as scientists,” McCall said.

She and the other scholars will spend May 29 through June 2 on the WKU campus in Bowling Green, where they will develop their plans with input from peers. “I am really honored to be selected and so excited to see the results of the project implementation at Winburn, as well as excited to share what I learn with district colleagues,” McCall said.

McCall earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Chemistry Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and her master’s in Diverse Learning from Trinity International University in Illinois. She moved here from Wisconsin in 2020 and taught eighth grade science for two years before transitioning to Winburn’s Explore team as a Project Lead the Way teacher.

Did you know? 

In 2021, Jenny McCall was a NASA Airborne Astronomy Ambassador. Read more …

Posted May 25, 2023