Grenadian educator, author wins International Impact Book Award for Best STEM Education

Grenadian-born educator Dr. Ansha Clement, a STEM learning specialist, mother, and author, has won The Internation Impact Book Award for Best STEM Education from a Phoenix, AZ company that carries that name.

Dr. Clement, who resides in Baldwin in Nassau County, Long Island, told Caribbean Life on Monday that the award is “an incredible honor and validation of the work I’m so passionate about.

“Personally, it reinforces my belief in the importance of early STEM education,” she said about the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics acronym. “Professionally, it highlights the impact of creating resources that connect with diverse audiences.

“I hope this recognition inspires others to invest in the next generation of scientists and innovators,” she added. “In the making are ideas of expanding this science series and developing workshops for parents and educators to integrate STEM learning into everyday activities.”

Dr. Clement said she has launched a three-tier science program for educational institutions to provide hands-on learning to students. Her ultimate goal is to create a world where STEM is seen as accessible and exciting for everyone.

“For aspiring authors, my advice is to start with your passion and keep your audience in mind,” she said. “Whether you’re writing for children, educators, or families, make sure your content is both meaningful and relatable. Seek feedback from your target audience, be open to revisions, and remember that your work can make a lasting impact.”

Dr. Clement said she has been passionate about making STEM accessible and engaging for all learners.

She said her journey in education includes teaching, school leadership, consulting, and founding initiatives such as “Who Am I, INC.,” which promotes education, entrepreneurship, and empowerment.

She said that writing Baby’s First Science: ABC was a natural extension of her mission to inspire curiosity and a love for science from an early age.

“I wanted to create a resource that demystifies STEM for the youngest learners while empowering parents to engage in science discussions with their children,” Dr. Clement said. “As a mother, I often noticed the lack of science-themed early childhood books that celebrated diversity and made STEM relatable.

“This book was born from my belief that every child deserves the opportunity to dream big in science – no matter their background,” she added.

Dr. Clement said Baby’s First Science: ABC simplifies complex scientific concepts into an “engaging and fun format that is perfect for young children and their caregivers.

“Each letter of the alphabet introduces a foundational science term, paired with vibrant illustrations and easy-to-understand language,” she said. “It’s not just a book; it’s a tool to spark curiosity and plant the seeds of scientific thinking early on.”

Last December, Dr. Clement launched her first children’s book that engages children on what she describes as “a captivating journey through the world of science from A to Z.”

“It is an excellent introduction to the wonders of science, encouraging children to embrace their curiosity and discover the marvels of the natural world,“ Dr. Clement told Caribbean Life about “Baby’s First Science: ABC,“ launched at Atrium 82 on 6th Avenue in Brooklyn.

“I hope to spark a lifelong love for learning about science in young readers,“ she added, stating that the book launch focused on children’s interaction with various illustrated apparatuses (tools).

“Kids created experiments like explosive volcanoes and colored snow,“ she continued. “The kids had safety goggles, gloves, aprons, beakers, volumetric flasks, and many more tools.“ 

Dr. Clement said it was “an honor to embark on this journey of being a published author and influential expert in science educational spaces.

“I am now among the 8 % of Black authors and the 12 % of children’s books that feature Black characters,“ she said, disclosing that she modeled the characters after her “two beautiful daughters.

“As a mother and science teacher, my inspiration was to design a journey for them to explore and investigate science, think critically, and solve problems,“ Dr. Clement added. “I envision developing a series of science books that illustrate the progression of skills and topics students engage with throughout their educational journey.”

Born and raised in Grenada, renowned as “The Isle of Spice,“ Dr. Clement has a passion for science and a purpose in education. She aims to give back to her country and serve communities in the educational field.

“I look forward to bridging gaps, empowering individuals, and inspiring a culture of continuous learning and collective progress,“ said Clement, who spent her formative years attending Alpha Junior Primary School and Westmoreland Secondary School in Grenada.

Unfortunately, she said tragedy struck just two months before her 14th birthday.

In 2004, Dr. Clement said Hurricane Ivan ravaged Grenada and changed her “beautiful island“ as she knew it.

She said her family relocated to the United States after the destruction and devastation.

Settling into what she characterized as “a fulfilling life“ in New York, Clement and her family traveled back to Grenada every year, visiting loved ones and enjoying the beauty of the Tri-island state of Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique.

“It was clear that while the Clement Family might have taken themselves out of the island, you couldn’t take the island out of the Clement Family,“ she said.

As Clement grew, she said she felt connected to her Caribbean roots and life on her home island of Grenada.

She said she completed high school in 2008 at Our Lady of Mercy Academy in Syosset, Suffolk County, Long Is., and, after that, followed her grandfather, Martin Clement, Sr.’s footsteps in pursuing her bachelor’s degree in education at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, graduating in May 2014.

After commencement, Clement said she was “laser-focused on her goals.”

She said she wanted to learn as much as possible in applying her skills and love for education in the teaching world.

With an optimistic mindset and versatile skill set, Dr. Clement said she set out to do just that.

She said she continued pursuing her education “vigorously,“ entering graduate school and earning a Master of Education in education administration from Grand Canyon University in 2017.

Through her various experiences, Dr. Clement said she was setting herself up to be “a positive force“ in school leadership.

She worked in Title I schools on the East Coast of the United States, learning how to serve all student needs and sharing her love and infectious happiness with hundreds of students along the way. She became a teacher-leader on her school campus.

Dr. Clement said she loved her students and developed a passion for “the teachers who tirelessly educate and inspire all children who come through their classroom doors.”

She said she saw a need to gain support for struggling schools nationwide.

“Underprepared teachers are placed in difficult teaching situations without any support to ensure their success and the success of their students,“ Dr. Clement said.

She said she understood that to have successful students, teachers needed the tools to create that environment.

Following her passion for supporting teachers and students alike, she consulted with schools and worked with teachers and their paired students to ensure the best results in their academic careers.

Finding success in consulting, Dr. Clement said she enjoyed working for herself and sharing her gift with others.

Utilizing the entrepreneurial spirit of her parents, Glenn and Denise Clement, business owners and founders of Osprey Lines Ltd. in Grenada, Dr. Clement said she set up a non-profit, “Who Am I, Inc.”, based on the 3E model of Education, Entrepreneurship and Empowerment, which is geared towards educating and supporting underrepresented communities. 

Feeling inspired by all the positive impact she created, Dr. Clement said she decided it was “time to shoot for the stars“ and enrolled in a doctoral program at Grand Canyon University, striving to become a Doctor of Education (Ed. D) in organizational leadership, with emphasis on organizational development.

She said she collaborated with Content Expert Dr. Lorrain Baptiste, chief of evaluation for the Department of Education and Knowledge and a “critical leadership team member“ in developing a $2 billion charter school program in Abu Dhabi.

As she journeyed through these remarkable endeavors, Dr. Clement said she continued to work in the classroom full-time and raised her two young daughters independently.

Knowing this was her gateway to taking her skills back to her community in Grenada, Clement said she dedicated her doctoral studies to learning as much as possible about the comparative differences in the education of co-ed and single-sex schools in the Caribbean. She graduated from her program in 2023 and became Dr. Ansha Clement at 32.

Dr. Clement is a trained principal, a Master Teacher at Math for America, and a chemistry teacher.

She owns a small business, KR Hair Care, a natural hair care company inspired by her daughters.

Dr. Clement said she was accepted to present at the 48th Annual Conference of the International Association for Educational Assessment on digitizing assessments and credentials in Kingston, Jamaica.

She has had a “very successful career“ thus far and has acquired impressive accolades along the way.

She said she is also excited to continue her journey and “strive for greatness“ while making a difference in her community.

When “Baby’s First Science: ABC” was published, Dr. Clement said she was “very elated,“ adding that “chemistry is my passion; education is my superpower.”