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Stephanie Garcia, Ph.D., is IDRA's STEM and gender equity education specialist with more than 10 years of experience in STEM education as a middle school science teacher, university instructor and graduate research assistant in engineering education. She provides professional development and technical assistance to schools across the nation on effective STEM education for all students. She designs and delivers interactive training that provides teachers tools for increasing student achievement in STEM areas. She directs IDRA's VisionCoders™ program that is a new eighth grade computer science course being developed by IDRA in partnership with Texas A&M University-San Antonio and 12 schools in seven Bexar County school districts. She directed IDRA's Texas Chief Science Officer program and, as an IDRA EAC- South project associate, she coordinated service delivery activities in the area of gender equity to school systems and classrooms across the U.S. South.

Dr. Garcia earned her doctor of philosophy in interdisciplinary learning and teaching with a concentration in curriculum and instruction from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). She also earned a master of arts in education and bachelor of arts in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in grades 4-8 math and science from UTSA. She holds a teaching certification for grades 4-8 in math and science, as well as a generalist certification for grades EC-6. Dr. Garcia serves as the lead of the Alamo STEM Ecosystem, a county-wide community of practice with a commitment to provide STEM/STEAM experiences for all students with a focus on students traditionally underrepresented in STEM/STEAM.

Her areas of research have included equity frameworks in STEM education, specifically those centered on inquiry and inclusivity; critical race theory and LatCrit approaches in STEM education; critical and engaged pedagogy in STEM curriculum and instruction; STEM curriculum development and teacher education; and youth leadership through family and community engagement.

Dr. Garcia has served as a public school science teacher, department chair and mentor for new teachers in the San Antonio Independent School District. Leveraging her teaching experiences and master's degree, she began as a lecturer for graduate and undergraduate courses at UTSA. It is within this role, she trained in-service and pre-service teachers to implement equitable teaching and learning practices within STEM curriculum and instruction.

Dr. Garcia also served as a graduate research assistant within the National TRESTLE Network, a multi-institution, National Science Foundation-funded project that studies and implements a model for improving STEM education at public research universities. As an embedded education expert, she worked alongside faculty in biomedical and chemical, civil and environmental, and electrical and computer engineering to transform undergraduate STEM education at UTSA. This interdisciplinary approach to course transformation focused on developing student competencies by incorporating evidence-based strategies, formative assessments, peer-assisted learner models, project-based learning, and culturally responsive pedagogy to improve student engagement and learning outcomes in UTSA engineering courses.
Writings

VisionCoders Teens Learn Computer Science to Support Younger Students - IDRA Responds to Pandemic's Effects on Social Emotional Learning, December 15, 2022

STEM Ecosystems Foster Community Engagement for a Strong Future - Partner with a STEM Learning Ecosystem Near You!, August 31, 2022

Using Textured Teaching in the Culturally Sustaining Classroom, April 22, 2022

Women's History is U.S. History, March 23, 2022

Strategies for Engaging Students in Today's Virtual and Hybrid Classrooms, March 31, 2021

Science Comes Alive by Generating Interest and Promoting Inquiry-Based Learning!, December 10, 2020

Meaningful Strategies for Making STEM Accessible, October 30, 2020

Hispanic Heritage Month - An Identity Preface, October 14, 2020

Every Scientist Named in the Texas Science Standards is a White Male, September 30, 2020

Girls STEAM Ahead with NASA Resources, September 24, 2020

Using Choice Boards in the Virtual Classroom, September 10, 2020

Learner-Centered Digital Badging with Distance Learning, September 10, 2020

Engaging Families in STEM Conversations with Students, August 30, 2020

Making Schools Safe Learning Havens for LGBTQ Students, October 31, 2019

Five Best Practices that Add Women to the Equation - Preparing K-12 Girls for Mathematics, May 29, 2019

Podcasts

STEM Journeys of Two Young Women of Color - Part 2 - Podcast Episode 219, February 07, 2022

STEM Journeys of Two Young Women of Color - Part 1 - Podcast Episode 218, January 24, 2022

Bridging Academic and Home Knowledge with Home Works Lessons - Podcast Episode 206, October 28, 2020

Meet the Chief Science Officer Students Who Brought the Program to Texas - Podcast Episode 199, November 26, 2019

Three Strategies for Engaging Girls in Math - Podcast Episode 194, August 06, 2019

Student Voice - Chief Science Officer International Program - Podcast Episode 193, July 22, 2019

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Stephanie Garcia, Ph.D., is IDRA's STEM and gender equity education specialist with more than 10 years of experience in STEM education as a middle school science teacher, university instructor and graduate research assistant in engineering education. She provides professional development and technical assistance to schools across the nation on effective STEM education for all students.

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Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, or STEM, is the gateway to a world of wonder. U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) STEM professionals work at the leading edge of our nation's most advanced technological breakthroughs. STEM is our future.
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DoD STEM supports a wide variety of activities including after-school programs, competitions, and internships for students and professional development and training for educators. Learn about upcoming STEM opportunities in your area or online.
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DoD STEM partners with organizations nationwide to offer resources for students, parents, educators, mentors, and more! From math clubs to robotics competitions, the Explore section has something for everyone interested in STEM.

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Check out videos of DoD STEM professionals as they explore scientific and technical efforts at DoD laboratories nationwide.
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"DoD STEM salutes these young innovators, like Maya Gandhi, and their achievements. Our nation's security and strength heavily relies on professionals who possess exemplary STEM skills."

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Young Researchers Compete for Top Innovation Prize

Five middle school students took home awards totaling $65,000 at DoD STEM partner Society for Science's STEM competition, held in partnership with Thermo Fisher Scientific.
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DoD STEM supports hands-on learning opportunities, teacher enrichment, scholarships, internships and fellowships to inspire and cultivate a diverse pool of exceptional STEM talent. As the government's largest employer of STEM professionals, the U.S. Department of Defense is committed to increasing the pipeline of candidates qualified for technical careers.

There are nearly 300,000 DoD STEM Professionals

60,000+ of DoD STEM Professionals work in over 200 DoD Laboratories and Centers

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DoD STEM seeks to attract, inspire, and develop exceptional STEM talent across the education continuum and advance the current DoD STEM workforce to meet future defense technological challenges.

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AlamoSTEMEcosystem.org | Connecting Youth, Community, & Workforce

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Our Goals Commitment #1: The Alamo STEM Ecosystem will train and support 500 local educators (pre- & in-service) who are new to STEM education, identify as a BIPOC educator, and/or serve underrepresented students by January 2025.

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750 million+ members | Manage your professional identity. Build and engage with your professional network. Access knowledge, insights and opportunities.

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Conduct an equity walk in your STEM programs!

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