A+ Teacher: Inspiring Young Minds with Hands-on Science and Real-world Applications

Kristen Aanerud-Smith, our latest A+ Teacher, is a marine biologist who has spent 16 years working at Sea World and The Florida Aquarium. Now, she brings her passion for science to her fifth-grade classroom at Davenport Elementary School.

Inspired by a book about sharks given to her on her tenth birthday by her father, Smith pursued a career in marine biology. She attributes her success to his encouragement and support of her dreams.

Smith has been teaching for six years now and is in her second year at Davenport Elementary. She enjoys incorporating hands-on activities into her lessons, such as observing caterpillars turn into butterflies and caring for a vegetable and herb garden. Through grants she secured, she was able to fund a hydro garden for her students, providing them with unique learning experiences.

Smith aims to provide engaging and hands-on learning opportunities that extend beyond the classroom through drawing from her background in grant writing and marine biology. Her ultimate goal is to inspire her students to do their best, be positive, and take their learning beyond the classroom into the real world.