Jason Orlen

Millsboro, DE | K-6, Mathematics, 2022

What motivates you to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching?

My drive to pursue excellence in STEM teaching is witnessing the immense academic and social growth that can take place within our students when best practices are being utilized. As educators, we are life-long learners. Through this mindset, we are consistently honing our craft to ensure that we are providing the best learning experiences for each and every child. By doing this, our students are able to discover joy and success in mathematics.

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

Throughout my years in education, there is a culmination of transformative moments that have affirmed my impact on STEM education. During these years, I have had numerous students enter my classroom with a negative mindset towards mathematics. Their experiences inside and outside of the classroom have developed a negative math identity. However, through the use of effective teaching strategies, their mindset has shifted. Students who originally had negative feelings towards math, grew to love math. It is reassuring to know that this growth in mathematics is not limited to the time the students have spent in my classroom. This is a life-long impact that will effect their interactions with mathematics in both education and society.

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

Being a Presidential Awardee, I hope to advance our nation in mathematics by using this platform to pursue opportunities to share my experiences and continue to learn from others in the mathematics field. By leading and/or participating in state and national conferences and other professional learning opportunities within my district and state, I am able to contribute to the knowledge of other educators. Through this collaboration, we are ensuring a greater impact on each and every child.

Biography

Jason Orlen has been an educator for 18 years at East Millsboro Elementary School. He has spent 10 years teaching fifth grade mathematics before taking on the role of East Millsboro's Mathematics Interventionist. He also previously taught third and fourth grades. Jason's desire for public service did not begin with teaching. Before becoming an educator, Jason developed his leadership skills while serving in the military. The leadership skills acquired through his service in the United States Army and during his deployment to Iraq provided the foundational tools needed to be a respected leader within the school community. Developing a love and excitement for learning has always been a priority for Jason and his students. By fostering meaningful relationships with his students, a positive mathematical environment that promotes teamwork, class discussions, learning from mistakes, and the strengths of each learner is created. Acting as a facilitator of learning, students use various strategies, models, and manipulatives to make learning discoveries on their own. Outside of East Millsboro, Jason has taught several educational courses as an adjunct professor at Wilmington University. In addition to his experience teaching children and aspiring educators, he also provides professional development for his district and state. Leveraging his experience with the Bridges in Mathematics curriculum, Jason has led workshops across the nation for schools adopting Bridges. Statewide, Jason is a member of the Delaware Bridges Cadre and the Delaware Math Steering Committee. Jason is a dually-certified teacher who has earned a B.S. in elementary education from Wilmington University and an M.S. in early literacy and mathematics from Walden University.

High-resolution version of the teacher profile photograph

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