Aletha r. Cherry

Aletha R. Cherry is an educator and community advocate. Having lived in Atlanta, Georgia for over 20 years, she has taught in elementary and secondary levels and spent time in the nonprofit sector. Over the years, her social studies instruction has merged into science and STEM, encouraging students through civic participation and district and regional competitions. 

Recently she has been able to use her roles as a ClassDojo Mentor and Ambassador to connect schools in South Africa and Nigeria to technology based communications and lesson tools. A Captain Planet Foundation grant and partnerships with Trees Atlanta and Food Corps allowed her school to become a National Wildlife Federation Eco-School, which has supported students as they grow hydroponic and cafeteria grade foods. Future collaborative efforts will include the ClassDojo partner schools as well as classes in Japan and Cuba.

Conference presentations include the 2016 Georgia Science Teachers Association, the 2017 International Society for Technology in Education, and the upcoming 2018 Annual Meeting of the Missouri Academy of Science. Her current location, Beecher Hills Elementary School, was a site trip for the 2018 National Science Teachers Association, where visitors were able to observe science instruction in an International Baccalaureate setting.

Ms. Cherry holds an undergraduate degree from Spelman College, a graduate degree from Oglethorpe University, and a STEM Leadership Certificate through NASA endorsed U.S. Satellite. She is currently a PhD student at Texas Tech University, focusing on Curriculum and Instruction in Global STEM Collaborations (www.globalprise.org). She is a member of the International Advisory Board of the National Science Teachers Association, and participates in numerous philanthropic organization efforts. Overlapped time is spent as a chess, Latin dance, and polo mom.