6th, 7th & 8th Grade Health Teacher in Gurnee, IL – Viking Middle School
“I am excited to be a part of the Alumni Network and look forward to helping out and working with the new Fellows!”
2023-24 Fellow: Angela Jansen teaches 6th, 7th, & 8th grade Health at Viking Middle School in Gurnee, Illinois. She has been a teacher at Viking since 1996. Her interest in Health education began in High School with a love of track and cross-country which extended through college. Along with teaching Health, Angela also coached girls cross-country and track for 16 years at the High School level.
Angela created an annual 6th grade Health Fair at Viking where members of the community come to the school to speak to students on a variety of topics including the importance of healthy eating. When she heard about Pilot Light through friends, she was excited for the opportunity to explore new avenues and perspectives of food knowledge to share with her students. Food brings people together and is a part of one’s culture & community. Angela and her husband enjoy traveling and love to experience eating foods from Chicago and different parts of the world. In her spare time, she loves to read (big Harry Potter fan), write, and go for a run or walk.
Favorite Food Education Standard: FES #1: Food Connects Us to Each Other.
One of my greatest passions is to share a meal with family and friends. I would love for my students to discover how food brings people together not only with family and friends but with their community.
A Favorite Food Memory or Recipe:
My husband is an amazing cook and I love to bake.
Why I Became a Fellow:
I am most excited about bringing food knowledge to my students that will make an impact on how they think about food. This knowledge can lead them to make positive lifestyle choices. I am also looking forward to collaborating with other educators and leaders in the food community to learn more about how I can make a difference.
How Pilot Light changed the way I teach:
I worked on the Pilot Light Food Education program with my 6th graders last year. I am going to carry over the Pilot Light Model with them as 7th graders to see their progress. It will be interesting to see how their ideas grow especially when it comes to the food waste in school project.
