Sheikisha Jenkins
Department of Energy
Capitol Hill, Office of Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA)
Maryland – Grades 9-12, Summit and AP Biology
Sheikisha Jenkins is a Summit Biology and Advanced Placement Biology teacher at Bowie High School, where she has been a teacher for the past six years. Ms. Jenkins is a former student and graduate of Prince George’s County Public Schools and started working for Prince George’s County Public Schools as a seventh grade science teacher at Thurgood Marshall Middle School in August 2000.
Jenkins earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland, a Master of Arts in Teaching, in Secondary Science, from Bowie State University, and a Post Master’s Certificate in Professional Teaching Standards, from George Washington University. She earned National Board Certification in Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood in November 2009.
At Bowie High, she serves as Science Fair Coordinator, Energy Team Sponsor, Mentor Teacher for Bowie State University Student Interns, and Biology Team Leader. Under her leadership, the team organized events like Science & Supper Night and the HSA Biology Coffee & Chat, which promote parental involvement, raise awareness about science careers and education, and facilitate a partnership between Bowie High School students and science teachers, parents, and local research labs.
Jenkins has also taken on leadership roles at the district level. As a member of the Prince George’s County Biology Leadership Team, she writes lessons, labs, and assessments for teachers and classrooms throughout the county. She is also a regular participant in meetings with county administrators and science educators from across the nation to discuss classroom challenges and develop creative solutions supported by current research. Additionally, she has served on textbook selection and curriculum development and restructuring committees, and helped plan and facilitate professional development workshops for the county science office.
Ms. Jenkins’ infectious excitement for teaching and learning is evident from the fruits of her labor. Her students have demonstrated consistent and significant increase in achievement on the AP Biology Exam. After her first year teaching AP Biology, an analysis of the school’s AP report and the College Board’s report showed the highest passing rate (defined by the percent of students who score a 3 or higher) in four years. In 2009, her students outperformed not only their counterparts in the district, but also students across the globe, with 65% of her students passing the AP exam compared to a 20% county passing rate and a 50% global passing rate. Ms. Jenkins’ commitment to effectively engage all students so they fully participate and succeed in the science classroom has been recognized by the education community. Ms. Jenkins has been selected as a 2010 Excellence in Education Honoree by the City of Bowie and the 2003 Outstanding Science Educator, by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
‘I am humbled by the potential to be a part of the national dialogue to improve education for all students as an Einstein Fellow. I am eager to learn from other educators and policy makers, through first-hand experience about the process of policy development and implementation. I believe the fellowship program will enable me to broaden the scope of my work by taking it to a larger scale, which will lengthen my reach so I can inspire more students. My journey has been more rewarding than I imagined and I am confident I will continue to grow as a creative, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable educator through my experience as an Einstein Fellow.’