At the Blanchard at Tuttle football game, Blanchard Principal Greg Jackson and teacher Jennifer Taliaferro were presented a check for Science and Math education for Blanchard High School by the people of Oklahoma Oil & Natural Gas.
This support will be benefiting Blanchard STEM programs and teachers. Jennifer Taliaferro is one of the staff members benefiting from the donation.
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Your hobbies, your passions.
I am a mother to two wonderful boys, Camden who is an 8th grader and Cayden who is a fourth grader. I’m married to my husband Blake, a Norman Fire fighter and we have been happily married for over 17 years. I love watching all of the BHS sports as well as my children’s games, being outdoors, gardening and going to the lake with my family. I also love cooking and traveling.
What classes do/did you teach?
I currently teach anatomy/physiology, and biology. This is my sixth year teaching high school anatomy and physiology. This is my 11th year teaching biology. Before I worked with high schoolers, I taught middle school science.
Where did you go to college and what led you into teaching?
I attended Oklahoma State University, where I received my bachelor’s degree in science. I was given the opportunity to work in a fourth grade classroom while at Oklahoma State through their work-study program. This is what led me into education instead of medical school. After I started teaching, I went to school in the evenings and during the summer to get my Masters Degree in Education from the University of Central Oklahoma.
Who mentored you into the educator you are today?
The teacher I worked with during the work study program is who convinced me that education was my calling. I am so thankful for her and her influence on my life. There have been a lot of amazing teachers I have worked with over the years and I am thankful for each one.
What do you love about teaching?
I love so many things about teaching. Watching kids grow in their knowledge and understanding of science is always fun, but seeing kids grow as young men and women into responsible young adults is really rewarding. I get to have a lot of students as sophomores and then again as juniors or seniors which allows us to build better relationships which then fosters more learning in the classroom.
What is great about your current school?
I have taught in three districts over 16 years and Blanchard is my favorite hands down. I love the community here. I love how it still feels like a small town even though we are growing so quickly. I love the traditions and how the town supports the schools. This is where I plan on teaching until I retire (many years from now). I cannot imagine teaching anywhere else!
The People of Oklahoma Oil and Natural Gas are committed to supporting STEM education. Why is teaching Science and Math so important?
Teaching math and science is so important because it is required in so many fields now days, especially with the growing usage of technology in our every day lives. Science is how we understand the world around us and I think everyone should have a basic foundation of scientific understanding.
