A Little About Mrs. Brandon
I will be your child's math and science teacher, and I am really excited to work with you this year. I have taught at BJHS for 15 years, and before that, I taught in Chicago. I am the co-chair of the science department. I have been on both the 6J and 6H teams while at BJHS, and I am excited to be a member of the 6K team! I love teaching, and I would not want to spend my days doing any other profession!
I have four kids, 3 boys and 1 girl; Phil is 10; Jack is 8; Jamie is 6, and Ruby is 4-years-old. I love to spend time with my family, and they spend quite a bit of time in the school. My kids always look forward to meeting my students. My husband works in physical therapy. As a parent and teacher, I value a close communication with you, so please always feel free to contact me.
I love to travel, learn, and stay active. This last summer, I spent a month in Mexico as part of a Fulbright scholarship. I have backpacked through Europe and Central America, and I love culture and visiting new places. For the last five summers, I have taken part in multiple science grants, including a 10-day science conference with 14 other teachers to write new curriculum and activities for NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards), creating professional development for science teachers, teaching a course on NGSS to teachers, and working for CeMaST (Center for Math, Science, and Technology). I was also one of the coordinators for District 87's STEM camp. :) I also help coordinate betabrain, which is a Unit 5 and District 87 free STEM event for 6th-12th graders in March. Watch for the flyer coming home in February.
I have my masters in Curriculum and Instruction (with an emphasis in mathematics and middle school), and I am working on my doctorate in Teaching and Learning (with a focus on science, math, and English Language Learners/Bilingualism). I am a life long learner, and I hope to inspire all of my students to be as well!
The picture below is of me going down into a coal mine and in Oaxaca, Mexico! You can never learn enough about how science and math are used in careers and about the world around us!
I have four kids, 3 boys and 1 girl; Phil is 10; Jack is 8; Jamie is 6, and Ruby is 4-years-old. I love to spend time with my family, and they spend quite a bit of time in the school. My kids always look forward to meeting my students. My husband works in physical therapy. As a parent and teacher, I value a close communication with you, so please always feel free to contact me.
I love to travel, learn, and stay active. This last summer, I spent a month in Mexico as part of a Fulbright scholarship. I have backpacked through Europe and Central America, and I love culture and visiting new places. For the last five summers, I have taken part in multiple science grants, including a 10-day science conference with 14 other teachers to write new curriculum and activities for NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards), creating professional development for science teachers, teaching a course on NGSS to teachers, and working for CeMaST (Center for Math, Science, and Technology). I was also one of the coordinators for District 87's STEM camp. :) I also help coordinate betabrain, which is a Unit 5 and District 87 free STEM event for 6th-12th graders in March. Watch for the flyer coming home in February.
I have my masters in Curriculum and Instruction (with an emphasis in mathematics and middle school), and I am working on my doctorate in Teaching and Learning (with a focus on science, math, and English Language Learners/Bilingualism). I am a life long learner, and I hope to inspire all of my students to be as well!
The picture below is of me going down into a coal mine and in Oaxaca, Mexico! You can never learn enough about how science and math are used in careers and about the world around us!