Post by PSU CSATS

🚀 Hitting #MaxQ on Day 2 of the #STEMpioneers Summer Institute at The College of New Jersey. In aerospace, Max Q marks the point of maximum dynamic pressure 💥 —the moment of greatest stress before a rocket breaks free and accelerates toward the freeing weightlessness of space. It is a powerful metaphor for where our STEM Pioneers are right now. These educators are navigating the pressures of legacy elementary systems built for a different era. And like a rocket passing through Max Q, they are preparing to break through—reimagining what K–5 science and engineering can look like for their students and for the future workforce we are collectively building. The STEM Pioneers are part of the #NationalSTEMteacherCorps, a regional alliance across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia committed to transforming elementary STEM education. Supported by a $5 million National Science Foundation (#NSF) grant, this initiative brings together elite educators and leading academic institutions—including Penn State University's Center for Science and the Schools (CSATS), The College of New Jersey / TCNJ Engineering, and West Virginia University's Center for Excellence in STEM Education. ‼️ This work matters because it: 👉 Equips exceptional K–5 teachers with sustained support, including a $12,000 annual stipend over four years, to lead and innovate. 👉Builds a cross-state community of practice grounded in research and collaboration. 👉Connects educators directly with university faculty to bring real-world science and engineering—ranging from mechanics and energy to agricultural systems and ecosystem design—into the classroom. 👉By investing in elementary educators, we are shaping how young learners see themselves in a homegrown #STEM #Workforce—and laying the groundwork for the next generation of problem solvers. Follow these STEM Pioneers to peer into what is possible in #K12. Evan Basham, Nikki Birkbeck, Emily Book, Jeremiah Friday, Jen Gossert, Kristen Landers, @Jennifer Mooney, Sara Rossman, Bob Walters, Rachel Kellar, Mystee Ansari, Tracey Lea, @Faith Harper, Heather Puglisi, Tiffany Pace, Jennifer Scott, Nellie Cottle, @Cynthia Brown, @Meredith Harrison, Holly Romahn, P. Daniel Beck, @Regina Cherill, Iesha Griggs, M.Ed., M.S., M.A., @Julianne Romanello, Melissa Cooke, Lynn Prosen, Shinese Harvey https://lnkd.in/e4NWEFDS