Kristen Aanerud-Smith is this week’s featured A+ Teacher, and she has been passionate about science since her childhood. After working as a marine biologist for 16 years at Sea World and The Florida Aquarium, she now teaches fifth grade at Davenport Elementary School.
Smith’s love for marine biology began when she was 10 years old, reading a book about sharks her father gave her on her birthday. Her dad encouraged her to follow her dreams and pursue a career in the field, and Smith has been doing just that ever since.
This is Smith’s sixth year of teaching and her second at Davenport Elementary. She is known for incorporating hands-on activities into her lessons, such as observing caterpillars turn into butterflies and caring for a vegetable and herb garden. Through grants she secured, she was able to fund a hydro garden for her students, providing them with unique learning experiences.
Drawing from her background in grant writing and marine biology, Smith aims to provide her students with engaging, hands-on learning opportunities that extend beyond the classroom. Her ultimate goal is to inspire her students to do their best, be positive, and take their learning beyond the classroom into the real world.