Bridget Zahradnik

Novi, MI | K-6, Science, 2020

What motivates you to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching?

STEM teaching encourages critical thinkers and problem solvers! Helping students gain these critical skills is my greatest motivation.

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

The most transformative moment was actually winning the PAEMST award because it affirmed that the extra efforts that I put toward teaching STEM to my students was validated. I did not have a lot of quantitative data to submit on my application, so I used qualitative data from students and parents over the previous 5 years (before submitting my application). Learning the impact that the style of teaching I employ had on both students and parents was transformative for me! It helped me really define my style and be able to name the things that have impact. My mission in life is to: Ignite positive impact--so I have been able to continue having a STEM impact, even though my position, school and team has changed since winning in 2020.

Biography

Bridget Zahradnik has taught for 28 years. She has taught fifth grade Math and Science at Novi Meadows for the five years and spent the previous 19 years at Parkview Elementary School, teaching first and third grades. Prior to that, she taught Spanish for a year at Village Oaks and Orchard Hills Elementary Schools in Novi, MI, a bilingual first grade at Bennett Elementary School in Detroit, MI, and first grade at both J.S. Slocum Elementary School in Pineville, LA, and McKinley Elementary School in Corona, CA. Bridget’s teaching style is one of project-based learning and subject matter integration with emphases on design thinking and student leadership forming its foundation. As the chairperson for the Invention Convention at her school, she supports young inventors in state and national competitions and has transitioned students and their families away from the traditional science fair to one of design and innovation. She incorporates a weekly makerspace into her classroom, emphasizing the design thinking process. She also managed a project for an outdoor learning space so that learning could transcend the four walls of the school. As her district’s elementary Science Content Area Leader, she has provided professional development, curriculum review, and support during a transition to NGSS. She values professional sharing and has published articles on the topics of science instruction, makerspace, project-based learning, and subject matter integration. Bridget has worked as an educational consultant for eight years, providing coaching and facilitation in school leadership, culture, and academics. Bridget earned a B.A. in elementary education and an M.A. in curriculum design and teaching, both from Michigan State University. She is certified in mathematics and Spanish.

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.