Be4STEMinc

At Be4STEMinc I develop, create and adapt materials that strengthen STEM skills and build family relationships from preschool through 2nd grade. After retiring from GIT and experiencing the joys of grand parenting, I began Be4STEMinc to continue adapting Preschool-2 STEM teacher training materials. Now I focus on sharing the resources I have "family-tested" to support others build STEM excitement in our earliest learners. At Georgia Institute of Technology, I earned an M.S. Degree in Technology. I spent fifteen years developing a national program of K-12 STEM Outreach Education after teaching 7-12 sciences for twenty years in public schools in Georgia. Some of my lessons may have been edited and formatted using AI, although all content and ideas are original.

My teaching style is energetic, engaging and activity-oriented. I have always engaged in the hands-on, design challenge style of teaching and learning. I participated in NASA and Engineering Camps throughout my career as summer enrichment. Now I create and design my own activities to engage early learners in developing manupulative skills that build confidence to explore the world around them. My goals always include stimulating their interest in science, technology, engineering and math careers.

During my twenty years as a Georgia educator I was named Georgia Middle School Team of the Year Member and Teacher of the Year. I sponsored leadership activities through the Georgia Association of Student Councils and 21st Century Leaders Organization. I received numerous local and state leadership awards during my career. At Georgia Tech I was awarded grant funding for consecutive years of building a K-12 STEM outreach program by graduate students to develop interest in future stem careers. This program grew to reach over 3500 metro Atlanta students a year. As a result, I was recognized for developing and sponsoring a mentorship program between GT graduate students and Atlanta Public Schools high school students.

I holds a Masters of Science Degree in Management of Technology from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Bachelors of Science Degree in Child Development and Nutrition from Florida State University, with add-on certification in 7-12 Sciences. I completed certificates in Computer Networking Technology and Computer Networking Management at Clayton State College and University, where I then served as an adjunct professor. I taught Middle School Life and Earth Science for 10 years, then High School Biology and Environmental Science for 10 years. I returned for an M.S. at GIT, I then worked at the Nanotechnology Research Center, where my roles included K-12 STEM Outreach. I created my own company, Be4STEMinc to create early learner career lessons, providing early education teacher training and support. I am now creating new programs for Preschool-2nd grade STEM and family communication skill building.

Throughout my career I have presented at all levels of conferences from Pre K- graduate educators, specializing in demonstrating the use of manipulatives for creating excitement in learning at all grade levels. When I taught Sciences, I earned an award as a member of GA Team of the Year and later, Teacher of the Year honors. I created and presented programs at state and national science conferences in NSTA and GSTA. I presented STEM workshops at national and statewide STEM conferences. I then developed and conducted Pre K and Elementary Workshops, in addition to creating 50+ YouTube videos to accompany the vast topics included in STEM Career motivation. Most recently I created and successfully implemented Dr. James D. Meindl’s Legacy Program “Teachable Moments for the Workforce of the Future” as part of the Georgia Tech K-12 outreach experience. My training manual for STEM professionals trains graduate students and research scientists to develop STEM outreach programs that increase the future career pipeline.