Let’s Talk Science Teacher Leader Recognized With National Award
When Jennifer O’Neill Riggs was in grade five, she was inspired by a wonderful teacher, decided she wanted to follow in her footsteps, and achieved that goal. This year, Riggs was recognized with a Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence. And as a bonus, she received a message on social media from – you guessed it – her grade five teacher.
Riggs was born in Conception Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, and earned a Bachelor of Science at Memorial University. After several years working with the provincial government in agriculture and environmental protection, she returned to Memorial for Bachelor and Master of Education degrees. Teaching, she says, combines her two loves – science and working with young people. “I relish the opportunity to inspire the next generation by nurturing their curiosity and love of science,” she says. “It’s a privilege to be able to do this work and have a positive impact on my students.”
Her passion to create innovative and fun new ways to engage her students led Riggs to apply to Let’s Talk Science’s Teacher Leader program. This one-of-a-kind community allows like-minded educators to build leadership skills by facilitating professional learning sessions and make a lasting impact on their school.
Being a Let’s Talk Science Teacher Leader provides Riggs with the opportunity to network and collaborate with educators across Canada, and then share ideas with colleagues in her school and district. “I’m inspired to continue learning and incorporating innovative new ways to enhance the science curriculum,” she says. “When I’m excited about hands-on learning, the students are excited too.”
Last year her grade seven students participated in the Let’s Talk Science Program Living Space. They monitored the air quality in their classroom, and then uploaded their results into a database that compared them to conditions in the International Space Station. “They thought it was the coolest thing!” says Riggs. “They’re learning about climate change and coming up with innovative ways to reduce carbon dioxide in the classroom.” As a result, the students chose to open the windows more often and add plants. Along the way, Riggs says they honed their skills in critical thinking and collaboration.
Riggs also participates in the Let’s Talk Science Outreach Program, hosting students from Memorial University in her school on several occasions to lead in-class interactive STEM experiences. “My students were engaged, had so much fun, and kept asking for more. I love it when the bell rings and the students don’t want to leave!”
Her citation for the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence recognized that she “consistently seeks new resources and tools to foster greater engagement, discovery and success among students.” It also highlighted her work in other areas, including the school breakfast program, mindfulness and stress management activities, and science fairs.
Riggs says the award was “overwhelming, unexpected, humbling and an incredible honour.” She was touched by the messages she received from current and former students and colleagues, and by the heartfelt words of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the award ceremony. “Teaching can be hard and exhausting,” she says, “but this validates what I’m doing day to day. Knowing that I’m making a difference gives me an extra boost to keep doing it.”