
Dr.
Jessica
Doiron,
Freedom
High
School's
coordinator
for
the
Center
for
Environmental
and
Natural
Sciences
(CENS)
specialty
program
and
a
biology
instructor
at
the
school,
is
among
66
U.S.
educators
selected
by
the
Society
for
Science
to
serve
as
an
advocate
for
students
who
are
typically
underrepresented
in
science
research
competitions.
The
advocate's
role
is
to
encourage
and
support
underserved
students
to
enter
their
projects
in
science,
technology,
engineering,
and
math
(STEM)
competitions.
The
Advocate
Program
provides
training,
stipends,
and
year-round
support
to
mentors
supporting
underrepresented
and
low-income
students
in
entering
science
research
competitions.
Dr.
Doiron
shares
the
goal
for
Freedom
High
will
be
to
create
a
program
that
promotes
independent
science
research
projects
that
give
students
the
opportunity
to
understand
the
process
of
science.
This
includes
helping
them
develop
critical-thinking
skills
and
encouraging
creativity
and
exploration
of
their
individual
interests.
Dr.
Doiron
looks
to
increase
Freedom
High
students'
exposure
to
different
science
disciplines
and
careers.
"Freedom
is
a
Title
I
school
with
an
extremely
diverse
population,"
said
Dr.
Doiron.
"Only
16
%
of
our
students
report
English
as
the
first
language
spoken
at
home,
with
the
majority
reporting
Spanish
as
the
first
language.
This
population
of
students
is
typically
underserved
and
underrepresented,
especially
in
STEM.
I
want
to
show
these
students
that
what
they
thought
was
impossible
is
possible,
research
opportunities
do
exist,
they
are
competitive,
and
they
can
succeed."
Prior
to
joining
Freedom,
Dr.
Doiron
taught
in
the
community
college
setting
for
over
15
years.
Her
background
is
in
biology,
ichthyology,
and
ecology.
Since
this
will
be
Freedom's
first
year
in
the
program,
she
is
keeping
her
goals
realistic.
"By
entering
projects
into
competitions,
students
gain
self-confidence,
the
ability
to
turn
learning
into
real
science,
an
increased
understanding
of
the
scientific
method,
and
the
chance
to
receive
recognition
for
achievement,"
said
Doiron.
"I
am
very
excited
to
be
a
part
of
the
Advocate
Program."