Amid retirements and increasing class sizes, it can be tempting to dwell on the more difficult aspects of Westford Academy’s ever-changing environment. However, new openings and gaps in the district have also brought promising perspectives into the spotlight.
Science and math curriculum coordinator Chris Jeffcoat joined the Westford Public Schools district after the departure of previous STEM coordinator Joe Barnas at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.
Despite his continued acclimation to the community, Jeffcoat began the year with fresh objectives aimed at fostering curiosity and facilitating a lasting understanding among the student body by encouraging feedback and embracing new perspectives.
“My objective to start is about establishing that baseline curiosity,” Jeffcoat said. “[…] There’s already a lot of curiosity [at WA], [but I want to continue] establishing norms and routines where we provide people an opportunity to question and think first before [they] judge.”
Jeffcoat, although new to the district, brings over two decades of experience in STEM education to his role. In addition to nearly 16 years of teaching math and science courses, Jeffcoat has also worked as a STEM department head for more than 10 years.
“He understands the full picture and the curriculum framework for an entire K-12 school system,” Principal Dan Twomey said. “His job is a very difficult job. It’s grade 6-12, math and science in three different buildings, so […] his true understanding […] of some of the best practices on how to teach science and math, I think [makes him] a highly valuable person to have in a community that values STEM.”
Jeffcoat explains his perspective on the necessity of communication and adaptation in education.
Jeffcoat has worked at a variety of Massachusetts schools in towns such as Fitchburg and Framingham. After a year as a school principal he decided to return to STEM education which is when he found an opening at WA.
“I really missed STEM so when I saw an opportunity to work in STEM education again and work with math and science teachers, that was a no-brainer for me,” Jeffcoat said.
According to Jeffcoat, both education and science have been important parts of his life since childhood. Coming from a family of educators, Jeffcoat discovered his stepfather’s teaching materials when he was in school. While a room filled with college science textbooks may have bored other kids, Jeffcoat dived into their complex concepts with enthusiasm, eager to learn more.
“I came from a family of educators, so for me, I had wonderful teachers growing up who sparked my curiosity and interest in science, and I wanted to do the same,” Jeffcoat said. “I love the way that science and math actually […] allow you to look at the world differently […]. By knowing more science and math, it just changes the way that you view the world altogether.”
Jeffcoat talks about his family and interests.
As he continued through school, Jeffcoat’s love for science and an environment filled with supportive teachers fostered his interest and developed his philosophy of prioritizing curiosity in his teaching. His positive learning attitude had clear benefits during his high school career, as Jeffcoat won first place in his school’s science fair for three consecutive years, and even won a regional competition during his senior year.
“I would say for educators, we are always trying to identify ways to engage students in their learning […] because the wonderful thing about education is it changes all the time,” Twomey said. “I’ve had wonderful conversations with him out of the gate here […], and I’m excited for what his vision is for the science and the math departments at Westford Academy.”
Jeffcoat describes the process of organizing a science fair.
After high school, Jeffcoat earned an environmental science degree from UMass Amherst and then went on to complete a master’s degree in Education Leadership and Management from Fitchburg State University. Then, during the pandemic, Jeffcoat returned to higher education to virtually complete a doctoral degree from the University of South Carolina focused on STEM education and creating cultures of curiosity.
“Most people were from around the country, Texas and Chicago and Seattle. There was even one international student from London,” Jeffcoat said. “[…] we had a very diverse group, and it was fun to be part of a cohort that helped each other out and brought in different lenses from education around the country, because education is viewed very differently in different parts of the world It’s not right or wrong, it’s just people see it for different reasons and different purposes.”
Jeffcoat discusses gaining new philosophies and discovery in math and science.
During his first year at WA, Jeffcoat plans to observe each class in his department and establish connections with students and staff. He currently aims to visit each middle school once a week and spend the rest of his time at WA. According to Jeffcoat, he wants to encourage productive and honest communication with the community in order to assess how WA can continue to evolve with the changing educational landscape.
“I know by looking at the numbers, kids do very well here. But I also want to make sure that we look at things through the lens of joy and curiosity,” Jeffcoat said. “Think sometimes we take for granted [that] kids will be curious […] But if you don’t create the optimal conditions for it, then we’re just kind of, it’s just lucky if it happens.”
Above all else, Jeffcoat aims to find ways to ensure students continue to enjoy learning while also being successful in their classes. Through an emphasis on retention based on genuine interest and a mixture of engaging activities, such as a possible high school science fair, Jeffcoat hopes that he can encourage a love of discovery among all students at WA.
“If a student learns enough to get an A in a class, and they never want to take a math class again […] I’m not sure that we met our objective,” Jeffcoat said. “So the scores don’t always tell the story. It’s a score. We have to have high, rigorous standards, and we want kids to be successful, but we also want them to have a joy of learning.”
Jeffcoat emphasizes his openness to new perspectives and ideas.
