{"id":2723,"date":"2025-05-07T18:04:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-07T18:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.americanboard.org\/blog\/?p=2723"},"modified":"2025-10-21T17:40:50","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T17:40:50","slug":"stem-teacher-spotlight-mariccias-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.americanboard.org\/blog\/stem-teacher-spotlight-mariccias-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"STEM Teacher Spotlight: Mariccia’s Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When a Kansas City-area school district needed a passionate and knowledgeable STEM teacher, they reached out to Mariccia Spearman-Kaki, a local community member with a strong science and healthcare background and a natural ability to teach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She didn\u2019t plan to become a teacher, but Mariccia\u2019s talent for explaining complex topics had long been noticed by others. \u201cPeople told me I made learning more understandable and interesting,\u201d she says. When the opportunity to teach science arose, she embraced it and quickly discovered a passion that would shape her future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Becoming a Certified STEM Teacher<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In need of certification, Mariccia was told about Teachers Like Me<\/em><\/a>\u2014an organization dedicated to recruiting, developing, and retaining Black teachers in public schools. That connection led her to American Board<\/em><\/a>. \u201cIt was the most accessible route for me,\u201d she explains. \u201cAfter being in school for so long, the last thing I wanted was to go back again.\u201d Confident in her subject knowledge but seeking support in pedagogy, she found the perfect balance in Teachers Like Me<\/em>. The organization provided mentorship and guidance alongside her certification process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within just four months, Mariccia became a certified STEM teacher\u2014ready to bring science to life for her students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the Classroom: Leading With Passion and Purpose<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Now a full-time teacher and coach, Mariccia starts her day greeting her student-athletes before channeling her energy into the classroom. She explains, “My students say, \u2018You have the most energy in the classroom!\u2019 and I tell them, \u2018Because science is fun!\u2019\u201d Mariccia continues, “I\u2019m pretty theatrical in my teaching style and always try to relate lessons to everyday stories or real-life situations.” Her ability to relate science lessons to everyday experiences to help students connect with the material. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2024, Mariccia was honored as Teacher of the Year at her school. Her accomplishments are wide-reaching: she launched a schoolyard garden that provides students with fresh vegetables, revived a dormant cheer team, expanded science electives, and organized a cadaver lab visit to give anatomy students a firsthand look at human biology. Her healthcare background informs how she teaches, with an emphasis on helping students build real-world skills.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Missouri Teacher Mariccia Spearman-Kaki
American Board Graduate<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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From newly certified to Teacher of the Year!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Deep Community Roots<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mariccia\u2019s story is a powerful example of what it means to grow from the community to the classroom<\/em>. She volunteers locally, attends the same church she grew up in, tends her garden, coaches, and is a proud wife and mother of two boys. Her life and work reflect a deep investment in the place she calls home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSome days are hard,\u201d she admits. \u201cBut there are just as many days when I\u2019m excited to walk into the classroom. My students are what keep me going.\u201d That connection\u2014rooted in both passion and place\u2014is what makes her such an impactful educator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Community<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re ready to bring your knowledge, energy, and love for learning into the classroom\u2014just like Mariccia did\u2014American Board\u2019s flexible, affordable certification program can help you get there. Whether you’re already working in education or making a career change, our program is designed to meet you where you are and prepare you to thrive as a certified teacher in your community. Start your journey today<\/a> and take the first step from the community to the classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teacher Appreciation Week 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mariccia has been featured as one of four program graduates who truly embody the theme From the Community to the Classroom<\/a>. Meet the other featured graduates below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n