
TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River teacher has been awarded a grant to support her science classroom and instruction from the Society for Science.
Jessica Kurtz, a biology teacher at Toms River High School East, is one of 41 teachers honored for the 2023-24 school year by the society, a nonprofit that aims to advance STEM education and build science literacy.
The society’s STEM Research Grants program is “an initiative dedicated to advancing hands-on science education in middle and high school classrooms nationwide,” the organization said.
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The grant Kurtz is receiving is a research kit assembled and distributed by Society for Science that provides more equipment and materials and gives students more diverse research opportunities.
“I am super excited for the grant lab materials,” Kurtz said Wednesday evening. “I will be taking my students out this spring to learn about ecology hands-on at Island Beach State Park, Cattus Island, Jakes Branch, and Double Trouble. We will be collecting data on water and soil samples using the lab kits they sent to compare the ecology of the different ecosystems.”
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Kurtz is teaching high school biology after spending 20 years teaching science to middle school students at Toms River Intermediate South.
“She believes real learning is forged in the application (not memorization) of concepts,” according to information submitted to the society.
Kurtz’s students do science in the field as often as possible, and she is the co-coordinator of the science fair in two Toms River schools.
“In the summer, she can be found among amazing teachers working in professional development across the country, teaching in the field with ecology students or wandering state parks with her own children,” the society said.
“Classrooms don’t need teachers lecturing in the front of the classroom, they need teachers facilitating student-centered explorations with teachable moments that change memorized facts into lifelong learning,” Kurtz said. “On the other side of their magic, you will see scientists arise with the skills to change our world for the better!”
“We are extremely proud of Jessica Kurtz for earning a prestigious STEM research grant, although nobody here is that surprised,” Toms River Regional Superintendent Michael Citta said. “Jessica is always going above and beyond to learn more so that she can be a better educator, whether that means traveling to Orlando or Oklahoma to learn more about science and nature, hosting summer programs for students about osprey, or working with colleagues and students to help save and restore the Barnegat Bay, she is a model of what it means to be a lifelong learner.”
“We know that she and her students will benefit greatly from this opportunity,” Citta said.
Kurtz said she learned about the grant program while attending the Department of Defense STEM Exchange in February 2023.
“I keep on the lookout for incredible programs like these — grants and experiences,” she said, which help her elevate the learning experience for her students. Next week she is attending an event titled the Commodity Classic, learning and teaching about agriculture and farming.
The Society’s STEM Research Grants program is sponsored by Regeneron, and allows students to explore a a broad range of research areas, from electronics and coding to environmental science and ecological studies, “fostering inquiry and a foundation for future scientific leaders,” the society said in announcing the grants.
“Congratulations to the 41 recipients of this year’s STEM Research Grants. These grants serve as a catalyst in classrooms across the country, igniting student curiosity and exposing learners to tangible, real-world applications of STEM,” said Maya Ajmera, president and CEO of Society for Science and Executive Publisher of Science News. “These grants play a crucial role in shaping an inclusive landscape of scientific exploration.”
“Confucius said, ‘I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.’ That is the heart of learning,” Kurtz said.
The kits Kurtz is set to receive are valued at $1,000 each and encompass four distinct types of research. They will contain 3 Arduinos, 2 PocketLab Voyagers, 1 Leaf Pack and 1 Soil Test Kit with a refill.
Arduino Starter Kits: With this open-source hardware and software platform, students can get started on learning about electronics. Available in a variety of languages and simple to use in any location, teachers can lead students through projects about voltage, current, coding and the fundamentals of programming. Students can build innovative prototypes with Arduino boards for research projects with this kit.
Leaf Pack Stream Ecology Kit: Students will dive into the fascinating world of freshwater ecosystems with a field kit, created by aquatic specialists and educators from the Stroud Water Research Center and LaMotte. Unveiling the secrets of streamside forests and aquatic life, this kit empowers students to explore the intricate relationships between streams, food chain dynamics, and the impact of pollution. Kits include six mesh bags, a stainless-steel strainer and DiscoveryScope to spark curiosity and enable engaging, hands-on research into the diverse realm of freshwater macroinvertebrates and their habitats.
LaMotte Garden Kit: Each kit includes one soil test kit with a refill, equipping students with tools to conduct precise soil analysis. The kit enables students to perform rapid test procedures and reference laminated color charts to measure concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and soil pH. Key components include a pH Indicator, nitrogen extracting solution phosphorus test tablets and more, ensuring students engage in a scientifically rigorous exploration of soil composition and garden analysis.
PocketLab Voyagers: This gadget can fit into one’s pocket, hence the name, and enables students to conduct research from anywhere. The small pocket laboratory can help students explore physics, weather, climate studies and engineering topics via sensing capabilities that measure acceleration, angular velocity, magnetic fields, altitude, infrared rangefinder and more. Users can stream real-time data with the Pocket Lab app to their own devices. There are two in each kit.
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