Students in focus
Educators build high-quality career and technical education (CTE) programs of study for the benefit of society and the economy. But most importantly, we do it for the benefit of our students. They are the leaders we prepare to innovate and change the world. Their voices matter.
Jermaine Johnson and Jasmine Montalvo studied with Kirstin Bullington in Next Energy Engineering at R2i2 in Columbia, South Carolina.
Johnson and Montalvo and their classmates in CTE at Richland Two Institute of Innovation (R2i2) participated as national finalists in the 2021 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition. R2i2 was chosen based on a creative proposal developed by educators in collaboration with students to address contact tracing in schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, applying STEM skills learned in their classrooms.
“Thank you so much for highlighting student voices. Jasmine and Jermaine are truly fantastic young people, the type that remind you why you stay in teaching,” said Bullington, who was named South Carolina’s STEM Educator of the Year in 2022. “And thank you for focusing on global themes in Techniques. I know my classes are better since I incorporated global competencies. I look forward to learning more.”
Meet Jermaine Johnson
Hello, my name is Jermaine Johnson. I’m 18 years old, and I live in Stuttgart, Germany, for tertiary education studies. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a military brat. My family and I have moved every four years on average. I attended grade school in six states. Some might see this experience as bad or unfortunate. It was rough to start over the first few times, but I got used to it and expanded on my given opportunities. Since I moved countless times, it made me more social and able to adapt to situations quickly.
COVID-19 also impacted my high school experience. Online education has pros and cons, but I accomplished a lot during this time. And I surprised myself with my capabilities. It helped to prepare me for adulthood, because I learned how to plan my days and identify what I wanted to accomplish. The downsides were that I missed out on the 10th and 11th year experience parts of high school.
What inspired your interest in CTE? And what are you studying now?
As a kid, I loved technology; my parents always said I was their little IT guy. So, I would say it came naturally! Now I’m studying computer science and want to become a software developer. I love it! And to this day, I help my friends and family with their technology problems. But nothing is set in stone for me, and I might change paths later.
In what ways have you been challenged — by educators, employers and/or your peers — to investigate the world and take meaningful action?
Each year, Samsung hosts a national competition for public school students in grades six through 12, and a team of R2i2 students were chosen to participate in 2021. The contest asks students to solve a community problem using science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics.
COVID-19 presented a significant issue for everyone during this time, and we decided to create something that would help nurses track positive cases. We aimed to reduce the number of students needing quarantine and the nurses’ workload. We interviewed nurses to find out what they needed, and several said they needed to catch up on two weeks’ worth of work. Ultimately, our team developed the COVID-19 Contact Tracer (CCT).
What advice can you provide to educators who wish to develop stronger connections with their students?
My advice is to make your class an interactive and fun learning environment. The teachers who did this made the school environment feel more relaxed, but they remained informative.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
One thing I would like to share is to know your worth. Don’t undervalue yourself, and don’t assume you aren’t good enough. Always test the water. It’s better to fail than to never try at all. After all, fail means “first attempt in learning.” Thank you for this opportunity.
Meet Jasmine Montalvo
I am Jasmine Montalvo, a first-year undergraduate computer science student at Clemson University. I really enjoy coding and creating computer software to find efficient ways to solve problems. My educational experience has been interesting and impactful. I was honored to take STEM-specific and hands-on classes in high school, which helped me develop an understanding of science, engineering and computer science.
What inspired your interest in CTE? And what are you studying now?
I believe that my interest in CTE started in intermediate school, at the young age of 12. I was inspired by my father, who studied civil engineering, and I wanted to pursue that career as well. Ignited by that spark, as I entered high school, I searched for and selected classes that would help me explore the fields of engineering and computer science.
Being able to take a wide variety of classes helped me choose which field I liked the best. And I enjoyed the process of coding and programming the most. I would find myself doing it for fun and learning tips and tricks on my own. So, I decided to major in computer science.
In what ways have you been challenged to investigate the world and take meaningful action?
I have been challenged in many ways by my educators and my peers, but what stands out most was being selected to participate in Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow contest. Seventy-five student-led teams from across the country were asked to make an impact.
Our project team created the CCT, which would track students’ locations and social distancing during a rough time period. Although we didn’t receive the overall prize, we were recognized as a top 10 national finalist. And I was part of the group who presented our work to a panel of judges. This project tested my limits in the STEM field and pushed the line of what I thought was possible for high school students to achieve.
I created code for the Bluetooth connections, explained our project to faculty and staff from around the district, and presented on a Zoom call in front of hundreds of people. This type of project showed me that I could impact the world in a way that I couldn’t believe. It helped me with my confidence and to be proud of the work that I do. I know now that I can take a step forward and make an impact all on my own.
What advice can you provide to educators who wish to develop stronger connections with their students?
To connect with a group of students, you have to be patient. I believe that patience will provide a good foundation for connecting with students. Because it gives you the time to get to know students and what they need in order to help them properly.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I think it’s important to take part in new challenges. Be open to taking risks and trying new things because they can lead to the best moments of your life. And there is nothing more special than being a part of something that is so much bigger than you.
