Amie Braik

Reno, NV | K-6, Science, 2020

What motivates you to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching?

STEM is vital in our society. At the elementary level STEM teaching is often not taught or taught through reading only. Students get so excited learning about phenomena and engaging in inquiry based learning. This is why I strive for excellence in my STEM teaching.

What has been the most transformative moment that affirmed your impact on STEM education?

A transformative moment for me in my STEM education teaching came when a student who absolutely hated Science, worked well below grade level, was able to explain a complex concept to a student who was above grade level. This child's face lit up, they became so animated when they were teaching the other student. After that, the student said they love science and that they were finally "good" at a subject in school. There have been many of these moments in my classroom over the years.

Using your platform as a Presidential Awardee, how do you hope to advance our nation in STEM?

As an awardee I have been active the state level. I have participated in panels on the state of STEM education in Nevada. I have participated in state and district professional development to help other teachers become comfortable teaching STEM. I have attended national professional development where I have collaborated with teachers from other states to better our understanding of STEM teaching. I have been on panels with my congressmen about what needs to be done to improve STEM education.

Biography

Amie Braik has been an educator for 17 years. Her first teaching experience was as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the South Pacific. Later, she taught sixth and second grade at Whiteriver Elementary School on the White Mountain Apache reservation in Arizona. She then taught for five years at Coral Academy of Science Elementary School in Reno followed by five years at Grace Warner Elementary School. She is currently part of the Nick Poulakidas Elementary School community for two years, where she teaches all subjects for fifth grade. Amie loves facilitating different STEAM projects in her classroom. Her students have engineered animal shelters. Amie has set challenges for her students to meet by building and coding robots. Her students have created art using 3-D printers and have created windsail cars, space capsules, and bee hotels. Amie is a member of her school district's science cadre. She has co-facilitated Full Option Science System (FOSS) Kit training for fifth grade teachers. She has led school and multi-statewide professional development on NGSS standards and science and engineering phenomena. She was part of her district's science curriculum adoption committee. She took part in writing her district pacing guides for fifth grade and is helping with districtwide teacher training on her district's curriculum. Amie joined a roundtable discussion with U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen on the state of STEM education in Nevada. Amie is the PAEMST alumni rep in Nevada. Amie is a member of the Nevada State Science Teachers Association and NSTA. Amie earned a B.S. in anthropology from the University of Oregon and an M.Ed. in elementary education from Northern Arizona University. Amie is certified in kindergarten through eighth grade with a general science middle school endorsement.

High-resolution version of the official portrait photograph
Awardee with Dr. Quincy Brown, Senior Policy Advisor at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and Dr. Sylvia Butterfield, Acting Assistant Director at the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) within the National Science Foundation (NSF)
High-resolution version of the teacher profile photograph

The views expressed in awardee profiles are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of NSF or the PAEMST program.