Spotlight: Lisa Moe, MAT ’16

Yes, She Can

Lisa Moe ’16, alumna of the Master of Arts in Teaching + Credential Program, uses empathy and laughter to help open doors for the next generation of STEM innovators.

By Phillip Jordan

Lisa Moe ’16 is one of the most joyful and uplifting educators you’ll ever come across. The fifth-grade teacher at Philistine Rondo School of Discovery in Eastvale, Calif., will do just about anything to get her students excited about science, technology, engineering and math.

But there is one thing she will not abide in her classroom.

Labels, be gone.

“Many students enter my classroom with some sort of label they’ve been given before,” says Moe, an alumna of UCI’s Master of Arts in Teaching + Credential Program. “Some carry the tag of a learning disability or they’ve been told they’re not ‘math-brained’ or ‘science-brained.’ Others may have been labeled as ‘gifted’ and carry the burden of greater expectations.”

As much as it’s her responsibility to teach a student how to code, Moe believes it’s equally her mission to help students free themselves from the societal labels and boxes that have been placed upon them.

“There is no such thing as having a ‘math brain’ or a ‘science brain,’ ” she says. “I teach my students that we are all innovators and leaders of our own knowledge. When we remove all those labels and

limitations, we can grow our curiosity and creativity. When we can nurture empathy, compassion and respect in our students, they can use STEM to make a positive difference in the world.

“Honestly, young students need to know that mistakes and failures are not the end all,” Moe adds. “Our learning environments should be safe places that encourage a growth mindset. The more we encourage students to take pride and ownership in their learning, the more we can help them connect the dots to their future in STEM fields.”

Earlier this year, Moe had the chance to share her “Yes, You Can” philosophy with a national audience when CBS featured her as a “superstar teacher” on its show “Mission Unstoppable.” The appearance also enabled Moe to showcase some of the creative ways she makes STEM learning accessible and engaging for her students.

“Mission Unstoppable” is hosted by actor Miranda Cosgrove, who co-executive produces the show with Academy Award-winning actor and advocate Geena Davis. CBS calls the series a way to highlight “fascinating female innovators on the cutting edge of science” and inspire young women to think about how they can impact the world through STEM careers.

That sounded like music to Moe’s ears. So, too, was the chance to share the screen with three of her students, as they worked collaboratively on a robotics project for the episode.

“I will never forget my students’ faces when the show crew used the film clapperboard before the cameras started rolling,” Moe recalls. “Not only was there such excitement on their faces, but it made me emotional knowing that this experience came from our shared curiosity and desire to learn, together, about robotics, coding and computer science.”

Moe believes that connecting with her students, understanding their backgrounds, and laughing together are key to creating an environment conducive to trust and learning. Given those priorities, perhaps it’s not surprising that Moe’s background includes both in anthropology and an internship on “Conan,” Conan O’Brien’s late-night TBS show.

Moe knows “Conan” is a surprising entry for an educator’s résumé. But she notes that her time working in the show’s digital department didn’t just fuel her passion for technology. “I got to see firsthand how Conan engages an audience,” Moe says. “And I take that experience into the classroom where I get to be ‘Conan’ every single day with my students, by creating a space for fun, engaging and sometimes comical learning!”

Clearly, her methods are working. The UCI Anteaters in Education Alumni Chapter named Moe a nominee for the 2022 Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award.

“It truly brought tears to my eyes to be nominated and considered for such an honor,” she says. “I’m beyond grateful for the School of Education’s continued support in my journey.

“The MAT program is no cakewalk,” she adds with a laugh. “But when you commit to it, you are going to get a phenomenal education. I mean it when I say that UCI’s School of Education is the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) of preparing future teachers and educators. I stepped into my first classroom with such confidence and I’ve been prepared for every challenge that has come my way.”

Our learning environments should be safe places that encourage a growth mindset. The more we encourage students to take pride and ownership in their learning, the more we can help them connect the dots to their future in STEM fields.