Jacqueline Katz

Fellowship Placement: Library of Congress
Hometown: Middletown, NJ

Jacqueline Katz has taught at Princeton High School (Princeton, NJ) for the last 10 years.  Throughout those 10 years, Jacqueline has taught Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology, Environmental Science, and Research.  Jacqueline worked to design the three-year research program during her second year of teaching.  The program allows students to design, carry out and analyze an experiment of their own design.  The three-year progression is largely based on Jacqueline’s research experiences during her graduate studies at Stevens Institute of Technology and Rutgers University.  While pursuing her Master of Science at Stevens, Jacqueline researched cellular localization of nuclear pore proteins during the process of cell division.  After completing this degree, Jacqueline moved on to earn a second Master of Science at Rutgers; here she researched the cellular localization of a mutated immune system protein and its role in viral resistance.  These research opportunities fueled her motivation to provide students with an authentic learning experience and an awareness of processes that lead to knowledge construction.  Throughout her teaching career, Jacqueline has found several opportunities to collaborate with researchers at local universities to better understand the science of learning.  These studies have led to the implementation of a student-centered curriculum that allows for exploration and discovery on the part of the student.  Jacqueline has also collaborated with local universities to assist in the implementation of the climate change standards in all subjects; she has assisted with the development of web-based tools and professional learning opportunities.  This process required collaboration with New Jersey state officials, as well as those from the surrounding area.  Her experiences have led her to become a part of the Tri-States Consortium which conducts friendly evaluations of neighboring districts to help them achieve their goals.  The dynamic field of education motivates Jacqueline to keep learning and trying new things inside and outside of the classroom.