Session Summary:

True creativity doesn’t emerge on command, it grows in the spaces we allow. This interactive session bridges engineering and the arts to examine how educators can intentionally design for creativity by shaping the physical and emotional environment of their classrooms.

We’ll explore the role of boredom, tinkering, and uncertainty as catalysts for innovation and discuss how feedback can nurture persistence rather than perfection.

You will leave inspired to rethink how you structure time and space to allow creative thinking to flourish.

About:

PreK-4 STEM Specialist

Brittney Tarr works as a PreK-4 STEM specialist at Thomas Metcalf Laboratory School and an educational consultant for STEM teachers across the country. She holds a master's degree in special education and a graduate certificate in STEM Education and Leadership, and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in teaching and learning from Illinois State University.

Her research interests include early childhood STEM education and STEM identity. Her professional goals aim to ensure access to high-quality STEM education for all students, particularly those from underrepresented groups.

Social Media: 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=30822345

https://www.instagram.com/adventures_with_mstarr/

Session Summary:

Teachers will learn simple, practical strategies for bringing creativity to life in their STEM classrooms—no matter the grade level or supplies available.

Together, we’ll explore how open-ended tasks, creative constraints, storytelling, choice, and reflection can transform even the simplest STEM challenges into opportunities for imaginative thinking.

You will see real classroom examples, unpack the conditions that help creativity thrive, and gather ideas you can use immediately.

About:

K-5 STEM Teacher, Carly and Adam Curriculum Developer

 I'm a mother of four daughters and the wife of a retired soldier. I taught in New York and Germany before we settled in Texas. With a decade of experience as a classroom teacher, I transitioned to STEM education in 2021.

Currently, I oversee the STEM program for our K-5 students on a local Air Force Base. Additionally, I have the honor of collaborating with Carly & Adam on developing STEM curriculum for our wonderful group!

Social Media: 

@‌stem_tasticmama

Session Summary:

Discover how Tinkercad and Merge Creator can transform your STEM lessons into interactive adventures.

In this session, you’ll discover how app smashing Tinkercad with the Merge Creator app allows students to imagine, design and present their own interactive creations in AR.

You will learn the steps and processes to help your own students research, build, and share their learning in immersive ways.

About:

Technology Integration Teacher

Melanie Sowa-Li is an experienced educator with over 11 years in teaching, including 4th and 5th grade, library media, and technology integration. She specializes in educational technology, coding, 3D design, and makerspace activities for K-5 and intermediate-level students.

Passionate about using technology and STEAM to create relevant, authentic learning experiences, she helps increase student engagement through hands-on, real-world applications.

A frequent presenter, she has led sessions at TCEA, TCCA, and the Texas Library Association on robotics, 3D printing, AR/VR, and gamification. Melanie enjoys supporting teachers in leveraging digital tools to enhance learning and creativity.

Social Media:

https://www.facebook.com/melanie.sowa2/

https://x.com/MsSowaLi

Session Summary:

Think, build, and create outside the box! Explore ready-to-use STEM lessons for grades K–5 that spark creativity and problem-solving.

Walk away with digital slides, handouts, and hands-on ideas to inspire your students and energize your classroom.

About:

K-5 STEM Teacher

Alma Torrez is a K-5 STEM teacher in Texas. She currently is the only STEM teacher at an elementary level in her district. Her students have worked on coding all sorts of robots and do a lot of engineering with recycled materials. Alma is always eager to bring new ideas to her classroom and find what works for her students.

She also schedules and assists in their school garden where they successfully have grown lots of onions, peppers, and more. Many of Alma's students come from low-income families, so she is passionate about educating them about careers in STEM while creating memorable lessons. Alma also loves to utilize literature that her students can see themselves in as her school is over 90% Latino/Hispanic.

She is no celebrity but her students sure do make her feel like she is when she walks the halls.

Social Media:

https://www.instagram.com/teachingconalma/

https://www.tiktok.com/@teachingconalma?lang=en

Session Summary:

Spark curiosity and creativity in your classroom through cross-curricular circuit project ideas.

Learn how to integrate Makey Makey, paper circuits, squishy circuits and more, into your Science, Math, Engineering, and Language Arts lessons.

Get inspired with ways to show your students how to make learning, and demonstrating their understanding, a hands-on, electrifying experience!

About Caitlin:

STEAM and Innovation Program Specialist

Caitlin Arakawa is a STEAM and Innovation Program Specialist in the San Bernardino City Unified School District, where she supports educators in designing cross-curricular, hands-on learning experiences that spark creativity and curiosity.

Drawing on her classroom experience in kindergarten and third grade, Caitlin leads professional development that helps teachers integrate science technology, computer science, engineering, and digital arts into meaningful learning for all students.

Her current work focuses on expanding equitable access to STEAM through districtwide lab implementation.

About Carrie:

Carrie Willis is the STEAM & Technology Director at Valley Preparatory School, a private preschool–8th grade International Baccalaureate school in Redlands, California.

Throughout her 25 years in education, she has developed a deep passion for educational technology and project-based learning.

Carrie inspires educators both on her campus and globally by sharing her love for coding, robotics, engineering, entrepreneurship, and design through social media, webinars, and presentations at local and national conferences.

Social Media:  

@‌caitlin_arakawa

Session Summary:

Turn up the volume on student voice through the power of digital storytelling!

Explore how technology and imagination collide as students code, animate, film, and design to share what they know in creative new ways.

Through real classroom examples across grade levels, you’ll discover how digital storytelling can transform learning into an inventive, tech-powered adventure where every student shines.

About Caitlin:

STEAM and Innovation Program Specialist

Caitlin Arakawa is a STEAM and Innovation Program Specialist in the San Bernardino City Unified School District, where she supports educators in designing cross-curricular, hands-on learning experiences that spark creativity and curiosity.

Drawing on her classroom experience in kindergarten and third grade, Caitlin leads professional development that helps teachers integrate science technology, computer science, engineering, and digital arts into meaningful learning for all students.

Her current work focuses on expanding equitable access to STEAM through districtwide lab implementation.

About Carrie:

Carrie Willis is the STEAM & Technology Director at Valley Preparatory School, a private preschool–8th grade International Baccalaureate school in Redlands, California.

Throughout her 25 years in education, she has developed a deep passion for educational technology and project-based learning.

Carrie inspires educators both on her campus and globally by sharing her love for coding, robotics, engineering, entrepreneurship, and design through social media, webinars, and presentations at local and national conferences.

Social Media:  

@‌caitlin_arakawa

Session Summary:

Calling all curious kids and their instructors! If you love history, science, and exploration, this session is for you.

Award-winning STEM author Jennifer Swanson will take you on an invention trek around the world and through time. This session is based on her Atlas Obscura Explorer's Guide to Inventing the World and also her Beastly Bionics book (about biomimicry).

Attendees will leave with tons of activities for their curious kids as well as teacher guides, and even podcast suggestions. Great for supporting the engineering and design requirements as well as STEAM literacy.

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About:

STEAM Author, Podcaster

Jennifer Swanson is the author of 55 nonfiction books for kids.

She is the creator and cohost of the Solve It! For Kids podcast which, in its five years of being on air, has 150k+ downloads, is ranked in the top 5% of all podcasts Worldwide, and received a platinum dotComm award for excellence in kids and family podcasts.

Her passion for science and technology resonates in all of her books but especially, Brain Games, named one of the 50 Best Science Books Ever by http://ThePlanets.org , Astronaut-Aquanaut, BEASTLY Bionics, and Parents’ Choice Gold Award Winner, Save the Crash-test Dummies.

Her books have received starred reviews, been on the Booklist ‘Best Tech’ books list, won a Green Earth Book Honor Award, three Florida Book Awards, California Reading Association awards, and multiple National Science Teaching BEST STEM awards. Jennifer’s Outdoor School: Rocks, Fossils, and Shells book was named a 2021 Kirkus Best Books of the Year, and her Save the Crash-test Dummies book received a Parent’s Choice GOLD Award.

Jennifer is an accomplished speaker at events and schools around the country, the Highlights Foundation, the National NSTA conferences, the World Science Festival in NYC, and the Library of Congress’ National Book Festival.

You can find Jennifer through her website http://www.JenniferSwansonBooks.com .