About Dr. Jennifer Jaso:
Dr. Jennifer Jaso is a sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade teacher of social studies and critical thinking at Sarasota Middle School in Sarasota County. Her 17 years of teaching experience include Montessori, gifted, Title I, and virtual learning. She is the 2022 Sarasota County District Teacher of the Year and was a 2023 Florida Teacher of the Year State Finalist. She is regarded for her ability to build relationships and work with students to develop historical thinking skills and apply disciplinary literacy strategies while building content knowledge in the social sciences.
Jennifer is a district coordinator for National History Day, a program that inspires confidence and prepares middle and high schoolers for the world beyond their secondary education. She integrates National History Day in the curriculum to cultivate disciplinary literacy and enduring societal skills. She also helps implement it districtwide to support teachers and involve the community. Jennifer feels it is important for students to understand the power of their voices and value of experiences that challenge them.
Jennifer holds a doctorate in Teaching and Learning with a concentration in American history. Her research has included secondary social science instruction and student proficiency, historical literacy, and the impact of the Teaching American History Grant on teaching and learning. Continued efforts to support historical literacy in schools and in the community led her and her colleagues to create the Florida Council for History Education, a nonprofit dedicated to the advocacy of history in education.
Jennifer’s passion for history and for its power to shape the future collide with her love for working with children. She is committed to cultivating a community of lifelong learners who appreciate the past through research, inquiry, corroboration, and project-based learning.
Jennifer has been married to her husband, Ryan, for 14 years. They have two children. Jack is five years old, and Sutton is two. She loves to host parties, travel, watch sports, and spend time with family and friends.
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