Jacquelyn Freeman

Jacquelyn Freeman

Fellowship Placement: United States House of Representatives
Hometown: Waldorf, MD

Raised in a blue-collar home in New Jersey, Jacquelyn spent all her educational experience in private schools. She grew up believing all schools (regardless of the type of school) were adequately equipped to provide an education for the benefit of the child. Her views changed when she began tutoring inner-city students for the YMCA during her undergraduate term at the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT). Disenfranchisement, lackluster supplies, and staff and students struggling to hold on to the joy of learning regardless of the situation were visually present. However, despite these shortcomings, teachers, staff, parents, and students found a way to progress and learn.  This sparked a purpose in Jacquelyn which would place her in the field of education. Jacquelyn did not follow the traditional path for teaching. After completing her undergraduate in Life Science: Biology, she expanded her knowledge in environmental sciences through internships with the University of Massachusetts: Boston, the University of North Carolina: Chapel Hill, and the University of Chicago before pursuing a Ph.D. in Plant Biology at the University of Georgia: Athens. Her research earned her the National Science Fellowship Grant. Though she left UGA without finalizing her Ph.D. due to health issues, she never gave up her passion for the sciences or higher learning.  After the University of Georgia, Jacquelyn went back to education. She became an 8th Science teacher at Accokeek Academy, who advocated for change in the student’s learning experience by creating cross-content learning practices for all grades. She revitalized environmental science education in her school.  Jacquelyn assisted in the Green School certification by the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education of her school. Jacquelyn became an educational leader within the county as a curriculum writer and professional development coach.  Through her time as an educational leader, Jacquelyn expressed the importance of transparency and relativity in STEM for all stakeholders.  She continues to encourage other educators on the importance of STEM through relativity through integrated learning practices. She furthered her educational leadership by enrolling and completing her Master of Education in Educational Technology from Loyola University of Maryland.  Afterward, she began a new scope in her educational career as a blogger with Discovery Education continuing her charge on demystifying STEM through clarity and relativity. Throughout her ongoing journey, Jacquelyn just liked those students she tutored is finding a way to progress and learn.