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As a former Chemist turned educator, The STEM Zone founder, Carrie Herndon, has over 15 years of experience in STEM education, with her most recent teaching position held at Francis Parker School in San Diego. As an educator, Carrie has developed curriculum, written standardized tests, opened a Montessori Middle School, trained teachers, and beta tested robotic systems for educational applications. As an author, Carrie has written articles that have been published in Edsurge, Science Scope, and a Middle School Lab Manual. As an avid grant writer, Carrie has secured over $150,000 in grant funding for public and private schools in the Midwest. She has presented at over a dozen STEM based national conferences on the subject of innovation in the classroom. A strong advocate for STEM education, Carrie has trained and mentored teachers and worked with non-profits in designing hands on STEM based lessons.

 

In 2022 Carrie received the Poway Chamber of Commerce's Business Star Award for Innovative Leader. Carrie was named the Illinois STEM teacher of the year in 2016, was awarded the National Science Teacher Association Award for Innovative Use of Technology in 2017, the Spotlight Innovator Award by the Innovative Technology Education Fund in 2016 and the Green Leaf Award for Engaging Individuals in Nature by the Heartland Conservancy.  

 

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