5th Grade Math and Science Teacher in Chicago, IL
Richard J Daley Academy
2025-26 Fellow: Jose S. will be starting his 7th year working with the Chicago Public Schools. As the 5th grade Math and Science teacher at Richard Daley Academy, he became interested in the Pilot Light Fellowship when learning about different ways he could enrich his lessons with food advocacy and unique learning opportunities. He is looking forward to creating impactful learning experiences for his students this year as a Fellow and looks forward to creating new ways to integrate food education into everyday learning. He received his Masters Degree from Northeastern Illinois University in Elementary Education and is a proud member of the American Association of Physics Teachers.
Favorite Food Education Standard: FES #5: Food impacts health.
I believe that when we know better, we can do better. This couldn’t be more true with food. Undoubtedly, when the connection between our food, where it comes from, how it’s produced, and how it impacts our health and consequently our communities, it can truly create a change for the better. It would be amazing how a focus on food health this year could have positive effects not only on our student body but also our entire neighborhood.
A Favorite Food Memory or Recipe:
A couple of years ago, during the last couple of months of the school year, our class began growing pepper plants in the classroom. The students got to name their plants and would check up on them during the week. Toward the end of the school year, we drafted adoption papers for the plants where as long as the students promised to take good care of them, they would get to keep them. It has since turned into an unofficial end of year tradition. We hope to have a school garden in the near future!!
What I’m Most Excited About as a New Fellow:
I look forward to networking in our community to help bring resources to our school. I hope to have a long lasting impact this year in our science and math lessons in fun and innovative new ways. I also hope to seamlessly integrate food science into my teacher created S.T.E.M. based curriculum.