Cool Teacher: Mrs. Lorraine Ambrose

It’s full steam ahead for fun and engaging learning in Mrs. Lorraine Ambrose’s class at Oakbrook Elementary in Dorchester District Two. She’s our Cool School Teacher of the week! Her hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math lab gives students control over how far they will go.

Mrs. Lorraine Ambrose is in her 17th year of teaching, six years at Oakbrook Elementary School as the school’s STEAM teacher, which is Science, Technology, Engineering, Graphic Visual Arts, and Mathematics. Students have classroom instruction and then put that lesson to the test. In fifth grade, students are using dash robots from Wonder Works, purchased through a grant, to put position, motion, speed, and their different thinking skills into practice. Putting learning in their own hands, and the experience drives it home for students.

Ambrose says she takes pride in exposing students to STEAM as early as possible. “We do a lot of problem-solving, critical thinking, and higher order thinking, usually they come in and they are presented with a problem at the beginning of class, and then they have their own ideas as to what they need to do to get it completed by the end of the class. Sometimes it goes a little further into day two or day three,” says Ambrose.

Students learn through classroom instruction, and then put that lesson to the test, putting learning in their own hands. Principal Kim Boutin says, “She brings learning to life here at Oakbrook. She incorporates all of the standards in her activities, and we as the Bears here at Oakbrook. We believe we will be successful in all that we do, and we strive for success and we do that through engagement. She does a great job at making activities relevant for our children. She is a STEAM expert, so it really helps our kids understand why they learn and how they can implement it in everyday life.”

The experience drives it home for students. Fifth-grade student Lily Gunnoe says, “It was a lot of fun. I had a great time doing this. Students can learn more while having fun. She’s always showing her personality and how much she loves this school and she’s always been an awesome teacher.”

Fifth-grade student Ervin Johnson says, “I think she’s a great teacher. We’ve done a lot of fun things in this classroom. It’s a very great class.”

Ambrose says she takes pride in exposing students to STEAM as early as possible. “It’s exciting to have it at an elementary school because we get them all the way from kindergarten up through 5th grade. It’s a foundation for their engineering they’re going to be using for the rest of their lives. Most of the jobs out there have some level of steam in them.” She says there is nothing more satisfying than helping students realize their full potential in critical thinking and problem-solving skills, especially when they have light bulb moments and realize their full potential. Ambrose says, “Makes me feel it’s worthwhile for me to come and do this every day. I have a mentorship with these students, and I know what I’m doing now is going to travel with them for the rest of their lives. I think I’m very cool.”

If you would like to nominate a Cool School or educator, send an email to Octavia Mitchell at [email protected].