Kelsey Beeghly, a science curriculum and assessment coordinator from Orlando, Florida, was the Library’s 2023–24 Albert Einstein distinguished educator fellow.
Tell us about your background.
I grew up in central Florida and earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Central Florida.
While at UCF, I taught physics to my fellow undergraduate students. Through this part-time job, I discovered how much I love teaching science and decided to become a science teacher.
After graduation, I moved to Brooklyn, New York, where I taught advanced placement environmental science, biology and chemistry for two years while earning my master’s degree in teaching with a dual certification in secondary science and special education.
My journey brought me back home to central Florida, where I transitioned to teaching life and physical science at the middle school level.
Then, I went back to UCF to earn my Ph.D. in science education. For three years, I taught science methods and content courses to undergraduates in UCF’s teacher education school while completing coursework and serving as a research assistant on a grant to support English learner education. Simultaneously, I worked as a high school administrator, leading curriculum and assessment practices.
What inspired you to come to the Library as an Einstein fellow?
When I discovered the Department of Energy’s Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship opportunity, which places STEM educators in federal agencies and congressional offices, I was fascinated.
My teaching experiences, as well as my Ph.D. program, alerted me to many of the systemic issues facing teachers and students in this country. Where better to learn more than the nation’s capital?
Immediately after meeting with the Professional Learning and Outreach Initiatives office last year, I knew the Library was the right fit for my fellowship placement. The team’s passion for use of primary sources to promote deeper understanding of the nature of science — what science is, how it works and how scientists operate within society — strongly resonated with me.
What resources at the Library have captivated you?
First, Chronicling America — I loved exploring its historical newspapers using every search term that popped into my head. I also loved reading “The Tradition of Science,” a compilation of landmark items that the Library holds from the history of Western science.
I really enjoyed searching through photographs in the digital collections, especially for curating a “Scientists and Inventors” free to use and reuse set. The Library has so many interesting pictures that represent the diversity of science but also shed light on societal norms that impacted who could participate in science for much of our nation’s history — the effects of which can be observed in STEM engagement today.
How will your experience this year affect your approach to education?
I have learned about so many federal resources freely available to educators, including the Library’s resources, and now see the Library itself as a huge fountain of knowledge.
I also have an appreciation for and awareness of all the possibilities for conducting research using the Library’s digitized collections from anywhere in the world. Any time I am seeking a historical perspective on an issue from now on, I will consult the Library’s website and its experts and encourage others to do the same.
What would you like STEM educators to know about the Library?
STEM educators need to know about all of the amazing things the Library has to offer. My own past teaching in grades 6–12 and of preservice teachers would have greatly benefited from incorporating the Library’s primary sources.
I’m very confident that every topic taught in a science classroom can be made more engaging by including a piece of history related to it, the people involved with it and its impact on society.
STEM educators could start with the Teaching with the Library blog, where I have shared some of my discoveries. Next, they might consult primary source sets available a the teacher’s page, then use the Library’s Ask a Librarian service and research guides to support themselves and their students in exploring topics.
I also want STEM educators to know about the science that takes place within the Library‘s Preservation Research and Testing Division. I’ve met the division’s scientists and learned about some incredible projects I plan to feature in my upcoming “Doing Science” series on the blog.
Teachers can bring these ideas into their classrooms and encourage students to investigate careers that combine a love of science with a passion for art or history.
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