MESA Teacher of the Year

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Vision Statement

MESA provides students with the essential skills and resources to achieve success in school, career, life and STEM-related disciplines. MESA welcomes all students and actively recruits ethnic minorities and females as they are often underrepresented in STEM fields such as computer science and engineering.  MESA mobilizes and aligns the resources of diverse educational institutions, industry and other partners to create and implement an integrated program that maximizes impact and outcomes. 

MESA TEACHER OF THE YEAR

2018-2019

Trisha Glenn, Sunset Elementary

Trisha Glenn Photo

Trisha Glenn is an elementary educator at Sunset Elementary School.  Born in Pulman, Washington, on November 20, 1967, she graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in 1998, with a Bachelor of Science in Adult Education and a Minor in Human Resource Management.  She went on to receive two Master’s degrees in Elementary Education and Educational Administration.  Over time, she has also obtained her Teaching English as a Second Language endorsement, Project Lead the Way certification, Career and Technical Education (CTE) certification, and completed two-years in a Doctoral degree in Industrial and Organization Psychology.

Trisha started her teaching career in 2003 and has taught every core subject as well as computers, CTE, MESA, after-school STEM programs, and summer school.  Her first teaching position in the state of Utah was in 2014 with the Uintah School District on the Ute Reservation.  There she taught 6th, 7th, and 8th grade English language arts and was hired to teach all sections of CTE.  This is when she realized she had a true love for teaching technical education and project-based learning.  She has taken this love for project-based learning and used it to help her create a successful MESA program at Sunset Elementary within the Davis School District. 

Three-years ago, Trisha was hired by the Davis School District to teach 5th grade.  Her principal asked if she would like to teach the MESA program.  Over the last three-years, the program has bloomed.  Every year, Sunset MESA puts on a community event.  The first two-years, they hosted Mad- Science night where the community and students could come participate in science activities presented by MESA students.  This year, Sunset MESA hosted a STEM Fest where every student at Sunset Elementary was able to experience science, technology, and engineering activities.  These events are one-hundred percent planned and implemented by MESA students.  In addition to these events, Trisha has students participate in projected based engineering such as bridge design and construction, roller coasters, and LED art. 

Growing-up, Ms. Glenn experienced many of the hardships her Title I students experience.  She was exposed to the many adversities that her students face.  This has created a passion in Ms. Glenn to support her students and help them realize that they can be anything they put their mind to do.  Trisha knows the importance of an education to success and moving forward in life.  She motivates students and prepares them to further their academic and career aspirations through MESA.  

Not only does Trisha support MESA at her school level, she has also provided MESA activities at a variety of district venues.  She has provided fun, innovative activities for students at the district's annual Equity Celebration as well as for the district's STEM EXPO.  She has also contributed greatly to the SeaPerch program,  providing assistance to other advisers.  As a tireless advocate for MESA and STEM, she truly deserves this recognition.