Guest Bio: Spencer Kiper is a regional and global STEM education and Ed Tech advocate who believes in empowering students through culturally-enriched and industry-based connections. His investment in the Whole Child Approach is bolstered by his background rooted in liberal arts, technology, and science education. As a STEM enrichment educator and educational technologist, Spencer’s efforts to build a pipeline for STEM and Career/Technical Education have resulted in a STEM Lab that enriched the lives of over one-hundred students each year. Spencer’s reach resonates deep within his community in Northwest Louisiana and extends far outside of his classroom, impacting education on a global scale. His work as a Professional Development Specialist for the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and STEM Revolution has impacted the practice of educators from over thirty different countries. Spencer is passionate about sharing innovative practices and has presented regionally and nationally on topics that build innovative educational technology and STEM education capacities in other educators. With advanced degrees in educational technology, cyber education, and educational leadership, Spencer works to impact the teacher pipeline in his region by serving as an adjunct professor and school partner to the teacher preparation and alternative certification programs at Louisiana State University in Shreveport. As the 2019 Louisiana State Teacher of the Year, Spencer is proudest of the network of educators that he was able to establish and the efforts spent putting educator voice at the forefront of educational policy and change.
About This Episode: While sharing his origin story, this science-fiction loving 2019 Louisiana Teacher of the Year (@SpencerKiper) discusses the difficulty of losing your first student and the stress, trauma, and disservice caused to everyone when you hide who you are. The importance of storytelling, elevating teacher voice, and policy work are also discussed.
For More Info: Visit www.stillstacey.com to learn more about the host and to submit scheduling inquiries or general questions about the podcast. To learn more about today’s guest or the resources mentioned, visit www.spencerkiper.com or @SpencerKiper on Twitter and Instagram.
