Teachers

KBAY Teacher of the Month

Nominate teacher for KBAY’s Teacher of the Month

Click here to see who was named KBAY’s Teacher of the Month in prior months

The KBAY Teacher of the Month is Jennifer Fernandes, who teaches 9th through 12th grade science at Silver Creek High School in the East Side Union High School District. Jennifer has taught Integrated Science and Chemistry at Silver Creek and previously taught at the college level in India where she grew up and received her own education.  Jennifer and a colleague will receive a Teacher Innovation Grant for their classes from the Silicon Valley Education Foundation.

When asked what she liked most about being a teacher, Jennifer replied, “To me what is most gratifying is having the privilege of being able to mould young lives; and the satisfaction of seeing these students turn into successful, happy people.”

Jennifer and her colleague will use their SVEF grant to purchase chemistry software so that students will be able to make molecular models and try virtual experiments that would be dangerous or too expensive to perform in the Chem Lab. Jennifer says, “The Silicon Valley Education Foundation Innovation Grant project is not meant to replace classroom instruction, but rather to enhance it, by providing a means of differentiation. Those students who are ahead of the rest can choose to explore topics of their interest, while those who are behind can focus on the gaps in their learning.  I do not expect it to work like a charm from day one; there are bound to be some kinks that will have to be ironed out, but when they are – this should be the closest thing to ‘no child left behind!’”

 “Silver Creek is a not very different from most public high schools in the San Jose area where you find a fair mix of highly motivated students with those who have the ability to do just as well, but for one reason or another lack the motivation, and need a little prod from time to time - like my own 13 year old! Our project might just provide that motivation and prod.”

Jennifer says that the biggest challenge in teaching is, “trying to get every student to take education just a little more seriously, and to convince both students and their parents that there is such a thing as ‘Tough Love.’ When students are held accountable for their behavior it is for no other reason than because their teachers, and every other adult who cares, want nothing more than to see them succeed - not just in their courses at school, but in life!