6th Grade Math & Science Teacher in Fremont, CA – Thornton Middle School
2023-24 Fellow: Antoinette Schlobohm has taught sixth grade in the SF Bay Area for over 20 years. Ms. Schlobohm became interested in the Pilot Light Fellowship when her friend, Lisa Ernst, shared her amazing fellowship experience – She was hooked! As a lifelong learner, Ms. Schlobohm is a National Board Certified Teacher in Early Adolescent Science and a National Certificated STEM Teacher; she holds dual Masters in Cross-Cultural Teaching and Educational Leadership, with Multiple Subject, Foundational Science K-12, and Prelim Admin credentials.
Prior to teaching, Ms. Schlobohm worked for over 15 years in the Silicon Valley high-tech sector. She has led youth on a month-long International Sustainability Camp in Guatemala, as well as trips to Costa Rica, Iceland, and Italy. In addition to her school passions of grant writing, STEM, and climate change, Ms. Schlobohm loves to quilt, garden, read, and travel. Her life objectives are to empower youth to see their place in society and available opportunities; create a knowledgeable action-oriented citizenry; build an inclusive, collaborative community, and inspire a passion for environmental justice. Ms. Schlobohm is excited about exploring new ways to engage middle school students in Food Education during her Fellowship.
Favorite Food Education Standard: FES #7: We Can Advocate for Food Choices and Changes that Impact Ourselves, Our Community, and Our World.
While I believe all of the Pilot Light Food Education Standards important, FES #7 resonates with me the most. My life objectives are empowering youth, creating a knowledgeable action-oriented citizenry, building an inclusive and collaborative community, and inspiring a passion for environmental justice. This Standard resonates as it connects to empowerment and advocacy of these objectives. FES #7 is not only about making food choices and changes that are personal, but how those choices advocate for better food choices for our communities and create a global advocacy.
A Favorite Food Memory or Recipe:
As a child, I recall harvesting asparagus, rhubarb, tomatoes. I also remember picking apples, hazelnuts, and walnuts in my backyard and learning to can and make preserves. After school let out for the summer, I would pick strawberries, raspberries, beans, and cucumbers with my three younger sisters and their friends. My favorite cooking memory is preparing her grandmother’s recipe for Hungarian Chicken Paprikash with homemade dumplings with my grandmother and mother. I still make this recipe lovingly for my family and friends today.
Why I Became a Fellow:
I am extremely thrilled to be a Pilot light Food Fellow this 23-24 year and can’t wait to share my passions! I am especially interested in sharing how youth’s understanding of food and their choices have a global impact. Additionally, I am excited to coach students as they construct connections on a variety of topics, including:
- health and human impact
- the advantages and disadvantages of globalization and consumerism vs. buying local and being a local-vore
- food choices and carbon footprints
- analyzing water resources required for growing and preparing foods for market
- evaluating advertising bias
- creating messages for the public with PSAs and infographics
- analyzing data regarding food deserts and pollution
- evaluating the costs and tastes of homegrown foods vs. store purchases
- looking at how we can contribute to and maintain sustainable foods and products, and
- determining how culture plays a role in food choices and whether or not availability is representative of our community.
