Jonte Lee

2021 Distinguished Alumnus - College of Science & Technology

Jonte Lee

Jonte Lee received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from Southeastern in 2003. He also has 30+ hours of graduate study in biology and a Master of Science degree in Marketing from Texas A&M, as well as a certificate in secondary science education from Howard University.

Since 2012, Jonte has taught chemistry and physics at Calvin Coolidge High School in Washington, DC. When the Covid 19 pandemic hit and schools closed, he moved his chemistry lab to his home kitchen. Now known as the “kitchen chemist”, he has been conducting bubbling and fiery science experiments from the heart of his home and streaming them over social media and virtual platforms for his students.

His informative and fun weekly lessons have caught on with not only his own students but others from across the country, as well as catching the eye of national media. Jonte was featured by our very own 1996 Alumna of the Year, Robin Roberts, on Good Morning America, as well as People Magazine, and The Science Teacher magazine.

Jonte, who loves to incorporate movies, tv shows, apps and video games into his science lessons, was recently chosen to join the inaugural cohort of the Department of Defense’s STEM Teacher Ambassador program that seeks to develop new distance-learning STEM resources, specifically designed for military-connected students and those traditionally underrepresented in STEM learning.