story by Claire Miller
Jaquelyn Guerrero (M.Ed. ’24) always wanted to be a teacher.
She remembers taking a middle school career aptitude test that recommended she become a chemical engineer, which is the path she chose for college. But her childhood love for teaching never truly went away.
“After earning my bachelor’s degree, my grandfather passed away and I chose to stay home to support my mom and grandmother,” she said. “During that time, I found a part-time job as a math tutor at a high school. When the teacher I was assisting became ill frequently, I stepped in to teach her classes and rediscovered my calling.”
Guerrero currently teaches at Discovery High School in Gwinnett County, working with multilingual learners in geometry classes. These classes support students learning English as a second language while teaching math concepts.
She’s also one of several science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) teachers from Gwinnett County Public Schools earning their master's degrees in STEM education, thanks to funding from the school district and Associate Professor Natalie King’s Alan T. Waterman Award from the National Science Foundation.
Her time in the STEM education master’s program has given Guerrero a chance to see how STEM courses can also encourage students’ social-emotional learning.
“Through the program, I learned how to create lessons that encourage teamwork, empathy and resilience while solving real-world problems,” she explained. “These activities helped students think critically and build confidence in their abilities. By fostering a safe and supportive classroom – especially for multilingual learners – I’ve seen them take risks, connect their learning to their lives and believe in their potential.”
Guerrero also gave birth to her second child during the program, an unexpectedly joyful moment after four years of trying to have a baby.
“Balancing the roles of wife, mother, teacher, student and expecting parent was challenging, but the support I received from my husband, cohort, professors and advisor, Dr. King, made it possible,” she said. “Completing my master’s degree while raising my child is a testament to resilience and the power of community. It’s a reminder that I can accomplish my goals.”
After graduating this fall, Guerrero plans to mentor students who are underrepresented in STEM – including young girls and multilingual learners – to help them consider pursuing careers in STEM.
In particular, she hopes to create a Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers or a Society of Women Engineers club at her school to support this goal.
“This journey has deepened my passion for teaching and reinforced my belief in the importance of STEM education for all students,” she said. “As I move forward, I am excited to continue making a positive impact in my students’ lives and in my school community.”