Originally from California, Kristen Wilcox graduated from San Francisco State University with a major in English Education. However, life had different plans for her. After relocating to North Carolina and eventually settling in Cookeville, Tennessee, Kristen found her true calling in teaching science.Read Kristen’s story and discover how her journey highlights the power and endless possibilities education offers.

A Passion for Science

Kristen fell in love with science and has dedicated herself to teaching it. Over the past year, she has taught a variety of science subjects, including eighth grade Earth Science, ninth grade Physical Science, tenth grade Chemistry, and eleventh grade Biology. 

In North Carolina, she taught Honors Chemistry for 10th graders at Henderson Collegiate. She currently teaches at New Colossus Academy – a hybrid school where students spend two days on campus and the remaining three days learning from home. 

Embracing STEM with AEOP

Kristen’s journey with the Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) began when she learned about it from Dr. Jennifer Meadows, a fellow teacher and the current lead for AEOP’s RESET program. Kristen first decided to integrate eCYBERMISSION into her classroom. Having never had the chance to participate in science fairs or exhibitions herself, eCYBERMISSION provided her with a dream opportunity to engage her students in real-world scientific challenges. Through this experience, her students not only learned the various elements and steps involved in science and engineering projects but also experienced significant personal growth. 

The resources and support provided by eCYBERMISSION allowed her students to excel, with one of her students even winning second place at the Cumberland Plateau Regional Science & Engineering Fair. The experience was transformative, showing both Kristen and her students that they were capable of achieving great things.

RESET: Learning by Doing 

Kristen’s first year with RESET was equally impactful. Her research experience focused on lithium-ion batteries, a topic she knew very little about before AEOP. Kristen dove into her four-week program in Adelphi, Maryland, during the summer of 2024, where she worked closely with her mentor, Dr. Jan Allen, and other brilliant minds. 

The experience was a crash course in battery 101. Her research focused on testing different materials with the goal of improving Lithium-ion batteries for Army applications. Kristen came out with not only a deep understanding of the subject but also the confidence to replicate her research in a classroom setting.

She developed a curriculum using accessible, everyday materials, enabling her students – and other teachers – to conduct similar experiments and understand complex scientific concepts in a tangible way.

The Impact of AEOP

These AEOP programs have profoundly influenced Kristen’s teaching philosophy. More often than not, teachers are evaluated based on how well their students could retain content knowledge. With AEOP, Kristen has decided to focus on teaching her students to foster relationships with the community and use the tools, skills and content taught in the classroom to help others. 

She emphasizes the importance of using scientific knowledge to foster community relationships and solve real-world problems. Her students have learned to apply their classroom knowledge to help others, seeing firsthand the “human impact” of their education. Ultimately, the goal is supposed to be able to use the things you learn in the classroom to help others. 

Advice for Fellow Educators

Kristen wholeheartedly recommends AEOP programs to all teachers. She believes that passion is contagious, and being surrounded by passionate educators has made her a better teacher. The programs not only provide invaluable resources and experiences but also pay participants, making it a win-win situation for any educator.

For those hesitant to step out of their comfort zone, Kristen’s advice is simple: if you are passionate about your subject and about becoming a better teacher, these programs will help you achieve that goal. The opportunity to learn from and work with dedicated and knowledgeable educators is an experience that will enrich both your professional and personal life. These programs have smart, passionate, and caring educators who will teach you to be better. And, they also pay you – which is incredible! It’s a sweet deal – like winning the lottery for an educator. Get paid to get better at your job in a very fun way.

Interested in participating in RESET? Learn more here.