Jolie Pelds is the Director of Innovative STEM Teaching at the Science Center of Iowa. Her passion to encourage creativity and innovation through science and STEM topics can been seen as she works with learners from ages 2-92. Her work includes the Innovation Lab, mobile SPARK Lab, Homeschool Science Series and Teacher Professional Development.
Kelsey Lipsitz Science Educator | Exploratorium
Kelsey joins the Institute for Inquiry staff with a background in elementary science education and professional development. She taught fifth grade in her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, before returning to her alma mater, the University of Missouri, for her Ph.D. in Science Education. During her doctoral studies, Kelsey was a research assistant for a professional development program dedicated to quality elementary science teaching, taught preservice science methods courses, and developed and facilitated workshops for educators at the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Nebraska.
N*Gen (pronounced “engine”) is a next-generation science TV show for young learners in Africa, designed to encourage a culture of curiosity and discovery, model holistic ways of learning, and promote positive gender norms. The program is a compilation of educational segments, delivered by charismatic teachers, exciting animations, fun quizzes, and experiments, as well as tips for healthy living.
Season 1 comprises 13 broadcast half-hour episodes and is currently broadcast in multiple countries in Africa, including Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, as well as the US and the Caribbean via The Africa Channel.
Katrina Minck Science Teacher Extraordinaire | Fremont Unified School District
Katrina is a K-6 science specialist educator with 19 years teaching experience at mostly the middle school level. Her work includes coaching teachers on the inquiry cycle, design thinking, implementing formative assessments and the lesson study model. She has been trained by the Institute for Inquiry at the Exploratorium as well as Cognitive Coaching by Art Costa. She has presented for CSTA, NSTA, Washington Mutual’s New Teacher Conference, Orange County New Teachers Conference, and more. In her personal life, she is a parent and world traveler with a multicultural social justice approach to STEM. She has continued to collaborate with students forming lasting connections with families with a passion for technology, current trends and data literacy.
