Dr. Jennifer Elisabeth Kasner is an Assistant Professor of Elementary STEM Education in the School of Teacher Education at Florida State University. Her research examines factors that impact how science teachers enact reform-minded instruction in their classes—primarily teacher identity, contexts, and teacher learning—and ways those enactments impact science learners. Her research focuses on the study of science teacher identity and identity development, particularly of pre-service and early career science teachers. She explores how various elements of contexts, such as curriculum or local ways of life, influence or could be leveraged to improve instruction for all science learners. Her research also explores how identity and contexts can be utilized during opportunities for teacher learning, such as professional development.
Dr. Kasner began her teaching career at Florida State University Schools where she taught sixth grade science. At FSU, Dr. Kasner teaches courses related to elementary science teaching methods and science education research.
Dr. Kasner earned her Ph.D. in Teaching & Learning, Policy & Leadership from the University of Maryland, where her dissertation explored the challenges and identity development of a pre-service middle grades science teacher through her third year in the classroom. She trained as a postdoctoral research associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the Scheller Teacher Education Program Lab in collaboration with Washington, D.C. public schools. She also holds a B.S. in secondary social science education and an M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus in Science Education from Florida State University.