Jessica Elliott
![](/sites/www/files/styles/unsung_hero/public/unsung_hero_portraits/KY_JessicaElliott.jpg.webp?itok=GaOD-M9y)
Elliott’s innovative teaching idea, “The Roots of STEM,” focuses on helping the families of students at Henry County Middle School feel supported and become further engaged in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) activities with their children. With the Voya grant, Elliot will create a system of backpacks packaged with complete STEM projects that engage families in the school community and provide affordable activities to replicate at home. Elliott hopes that this project will encourage students to be both the student and teacher for their families as they cultivate a deeper knowledge of concepts learned during science class. Each unit will change and span from astronomy to robotics and chemistry as Elliott will challenge her students to engage their families in an interactive science lesson.