Bailey Nafziger

Bailey Nafziger, Ed.D. is an Assistant Professor of Elementary Science Education in the College of Education at Georgia Southern University. She received her BS in elementary education from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota, her master's in science education from Northern Arizona University, and her educational doctorate from the University of North Dakota.Bailey spent her first decade in education working as a middle school science teacher and an elementary gifted specialist in southern Arizona. Along with regular teaching responsibilities, Bailey took on teacher-leadership roles including serving as an instructional coach, mentoring new teachers, leading professional learning communities, as well as designing and facilitating professional development in both science and gifted education at a district and state level. She also dedicated time to her students working as a soccer coach, Student Council advisor, and being an advisor for other various student-led initiatives.Currently, Bailey teaches elementary science education methods at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Her classes have a strong theme of asset-based instruction and differentiating to elevate the strengths of each student. Her recent scholarship centers on overlaps between science education, gifted education, and culturally responsive teaching. Her goal is to empower teachers to engage in social justice work in their classroom while modeling the process to and for their students. Bailey has truly fallen in love with teaching and maintains the goal of preparing teachers for the dedication, passion, and perseverance necessary to succeed in the field today.