Educators in Florida play an important role in
educating and training the next generation of innovators. Since 2007 FLATE has
placed educators at the forefront of its annual awards program and recognizes educators
at the secondary and postsecondary level for their commitment to technician
education and training. To date 26 educators have been recognized for their outstanding
contributions to manufacturing and/or engineering technology education.
This year’s recipient of the FLATE Distinguished Secondary Educator Award is Selena Lewis.
SPOTLIGHT ON SELENA LEWIS
The 2021 recipient of the Distinguished Manufacturing Secondary Educator-of-the-Year Award is Selena Sharnell Lewis. Lewis currently serves as the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) educator for Project Lead the Way at Young Middle Magnet School in Tampa, FL. Lewis’ journey as an educator started nearly 30 years ago when in 1995, she became heavily involved with STEM-based initiatives.
Lewis has made exceptional contributions to STEM careers and fields as she has worked relentlessly to empower middle and high school girls with experience, knowledge, and resources and is recognized for her exceptional contributions to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at the secondary education level. Her efforts in leading multiple STEM-related curriculum continues to this day where she teaches courses that are heavily immersed in computer science concepts integrated with robotics, app development, design and modeling, science of technology, entrepreneurship and other cutting-edge course themes/concepts. According to Lewis “a teacher is the facilitator of learning, but students are actually the ones filled with knowledge. They become stewards of their own learning.”
Selena’s genuine love for teaching is reflected in her desire to equip students with knowledge that can be applied to real-world scenarios. Striking a strategic partnership with local organizations such as SOFWERX, Suncoast Credit Union, Hillsborough Community College, Florida Department of Health, City of Tampa and the Florida Advanced Technological Education Center, Selena organized and hosted the FIRST ‘All Girls’ STEM Day featuring STEM-related activities that were presented in an interactive and engaging environment. To date more than 500 middle and high school students from across Hillsborough County have attended the “free” event that is made possible through monetary and non-monetary contributions from local sponsors that are valued over $35,000.
In addition to successfully launching STEM Day, Lewis
works with the Verizon Innovative Labs, Project Lead the Way and SOFWERX to
provide STEM camps for elementary and middle school students that are
completely free. The camps feature
highly engaged lessons and projects that center on topics that range from artificial
intelligence, virtual reality, 3D printing, robotics, app development, video game
design, coding to Internet of Things, holography, augmented reality, digital photography
and other STEM concepts. The summer camps are restricted to 100 participants
per session, taught by Hillsborough County school district teachers and include
free breakfast and lunch for participants.
On a community level, Selena Lewis has been an active USF Stavros Center BB&T Fellows. The Center is engaged with design thinking and entrepreneurial concepts which are implemented throughout various curriculums. Selena has also been actively involved in various advisory boards such as the NFTE Entrepreneurship Advisory Board, Young Middle Magnet School STEM Advisory Board, Girls STEM Day Advisory Board and the City of Tampa STEM Initiatives Advisory Board. Lewis currently serves as a professional development coach for Hillsborough County Public Schools and Hillsborough Community College Educators through the EET Innovators in Residence Grant Program. The grant program is in direct collaboration with the Hillsborough Community College Entrepreneurship Program and Hillsborough County Public Schools Career and Technical Education to empower educators and students with entrepreneurial skills and concepts that can be applied to real-life situations.
Lewis views success as a thirst and need for lifelong learning. She hopes her efforts “leave a legacy that empowers students to achieve anything they set their minds to.” For more information about Selena Lewis and to learn about the educational initiatives that she spearheads reach out to her at selena.lewis@sdhc.k12.fl.us. For information on the FLATE Awards, or submit an award nomination for next year visit http://fl-ate.org/programs/flate-awards, or contact Executive Director of FLATE, Dr. Marilyn Barger at Marilyn.Barger@flate.org
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