Social Studies

Jenecey Griffin, Geography
Ms. Griffin is delighted to join KIPP Renaissance High School as a Social Studies teacher for the 2011-2012 school year. Mrs. Griffin loves teaching and comes from a family of educators. With being a high school graduate from Clarksdale High School in Clarksdale, MS in 1999, she furthered the passion of teaching by obtaining a B.A. in Secondary Education with a concentration in Social Studies from the University of Mississippi in 2005. After pursuing her B.A. degree, she became a 5th grade Social Studies teacher at Quitman County Middle School in Marks, MS for 2005-2007 school year. She also received her M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Mississippi in 2007. While pursuing her M.Ed, she was given the opportunity to teach at her graduating high school, Clarksdale High School. She taught 9th and 10th grade History for 2007-2008 school year. Three years ago, Mrs. Griffin moved to Meridian, MS and taught in a neighboring school in Jasper County, MS. She taught 10th grade World History, 11th grade United States History, and she also attended Milsap College located in Jackson, MS for a workshop to teach Advanced Placement United States History in the summer of 2009. While at the school, Mrs. Griffin had outstanding Social Studies test scores, which helped her students achieve a 91% passing rate for the United States History Mississippi Subject Area Test for 2009-2010 school year. Mrs. Griffin is currently working on her Ed.S. in Secondary Education and History at Mississippi State University. She will obtain this degree August 2011. Mrs. Griffin is very excited to join the team and looks forward to helping the students of KIPP Renaissance High School succeed in college and beyond their potential.

Jason Saltmarsh, Civics
Jason Saltmarsh joines the 9th grade team at KIPP Renaissance HS as the College Readiness instructor.  Several experiences and accomplishments bear upon Jason’s own readiness to lead at KIPP.  Jason recently transitioned from Cesar Chavez School for Public Policy in Washington DC where he taught for two years.  He supplemented his social studies teaching with coaching track, debate and student council at various times.  In 2003, Jason earned his B.A. at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and later his M.A. in history at UMass Boston.  In addition to his experience at Chavez, Jason has taught language minority students in an English Immersion program.  He’s designed curriculum and taught courses on topics he loves, like the history of natural disasters and law and politics.  Jason has developed an appreciation for the many ways in which people learn through his role as educator at Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, Fusion Academy in Solana Beach, CA, Urban Scholars in Boston, MA and Chavez, in the nation’s capital.  Through racing long distances on foot and driving longer distances on US highways and writing draft upon draft of political and personal essays, Jason has honed a profound faith in both practice and commitment.  He looks forward to sharing his appreciation for learning and meaningful work with scholars and staff.