It is recognition of the hard work STEM teachers, in particular, do on a daily basis to pass on our passion to our students. I view recipients as teachers who continually look for better ways to engage students and make learning more meaningful. Awardees want to make STEM education better, not just for their own students, but for all students. Receiving the Presidential Award is an honor that I will continue to work to be worthy of for the rest of my career.

Brittany Kozlenko Brewster, NY | 7-12, Science, 2021

The official biography below was current at the time of the award.

Brittany Kozlenko has been a teacher at Brewster High School for the past 17 years. She has taught 9-12th grade Advanced Placement Physics, along with introductory physics classes and robotics electives throughout her tenure. After being trained on computational modeling, Brittany has been working towards implementing this approach in her classroom. She uses a variety of ways to engage students, constantly fine tuning her pedagogy. Brittany's passion for STEM education extends beyond the classroom. She has taken on the role of Science Liaison as well as advocating for the creation of a K-12 Science Articulation Committee within her district. She is also a member of the Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Committee. On professional development days, she has run workshops on Project Based Learning, Flipped Classrooms, and Integrating Technology. In 2018, Brittany had the opportunity to take a leave of absence from her teaching position. During this time, she was the Content Specialist for physics on the Socratic app by Google. Brittany has been honored for her excellence in the classroom and her innovative use of technology over the years. In 2016, she was awarded a Regeneron STEM Fellowship, taking classes through NASA's endeavor program, and working for two weeks with Regeneron scientists. In 2018, she was named an Empire State Excellence in Teaching Award recipient. In 2022, she was selected by the Lower Hudson Regional Information Center (LHRIC) as a teacher who Transforms Education through Leading and Learning (TELL). Brittany earned a B.S. in physics from Fairfield University, an M.S. in instructional technology from Western Connecticut State University, and an Ed.D. in educational leadership from St. John's University. She is certified in physics.

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