Penn State Center for Science and the Schools

Penn State Center for Science and the Schools Bridging Research and Education in STEM. We bring authentic research practices into the K12 classroo

CSATS is a leader in transforming precollege STEM education, contributing to the university’s land-grant mission in a 21st-century context by leveraging the research being done at Penn State. CSATS works with Penn State researchers and their colleagues to develop, implement, assess, and disseminate STEM outreach programs, mostly to K-12 educators.

Tiffany Pace, a K–5 STEAM teacher at Cross Lanes Elementary in West Virginia, brings 14 years of experience and a stron...
06/16/2026


Tiffany Pace, a K–5 STEAM teacher at Cross Lanes Elementary in West Virginia, brings 14 years of experience and a strong commitment to globally connected, innovative learning. Her recognitions include Global Teacher Prize Ambassador, PAEMST awardee, Grosvenor Teacher Fellow, Fulbright alumna, and National Geographic Certified Educator. She is also an NSTA author and national presenter. Tiffany co-founded the first U.S.–Uruguay STEAM Team, creating global, real-world learning opportunities for students.
She applied to the STEM Pioneer program to expand access to meaningful STEM experiences for her students and others across West Virginia. She aims to inspire curiosity, confidence, and problem-solving while sharing her global and classroom innovations with fellow educators statewide.
Tiffany values West Virginia’s natural beauty, history, and, most of all, its people—known for their resilience, compassion, and strong sense of community. She highlights the pepperoni roll as her favorite state food, representing the culture and traditions of the region.
She believes elementary STEM nurtures children’s natural curiosity while building critical skills like creativity, collaboration, and perseverance. Through hands-on, real-world challenges, students gain confidence, see failure as part of learning, and recognize their ability to solve problems. For Tiffany, early STEM education is about empowering students to become innovative thinkers and leaders who can shape a better future.
Follow Tiffany on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-pace-800818276/
https://www.psu.edu/news/education/story/5m-nsf-grant-enhance-elementary-stem-education-mid-atlantic?utm_audience=Staff&utm_source=newswire&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Penn%20State%20Today&utm_content=09-02-2025-21-16&utm_term=TopStories%20-%201

Gossert, a K–5 educator in Conrad Weiser Area School District, Pennsylvania, is a STEM Pioneer dedicated to empowering...
06/16/2026


Gossert, a K–5 educator in Conrad Weiser Area School District, Pennsylvania, is a STEM Pioneer dedicated to empowering young learners through engineering and innovation. Since transitioning to elementary education in 2015, she has championed STEM as a core “special,” helping design a curriculum spanning engineering, coding, robotics, and science. Based in Berks County, she focuses on transforming students’ natural curiosity into skill through structured engineering cycles. She recently coached 3rd and 4th graders to the KidWind Challenge, guided by her motto, “Try and stop me.”
Jenn applied to the STEM Pioneer program to advance high-quality, curriculum-driven STEM opportunities for young learners. She values its structured cohort themes and the chance to collaborate with like-minded educators, while bringing engaging, real-world learning experiences back to her classroom.
She appreciates Pennsylvania’s diversity—from urban Philadelphia to historic Gettysburg and its scenic mountains—and feels a strong personal connection to Slippery Rock University. Her favorite local food is the cheesesteak, though she also enjoys a New Jersey classic: pork roll and Swiss on a hard roll.
Jenn believes elementary STEM is essential because it meets students where they are, allowing all learners—including those who struggle in traditional settings—to thrive. Through hands-on inquiry and engineering cycles, students build resilience, creativity, and confidence. They learn to view challenges as opportunities to iterate and improve, ultimately seeing themselves as capable problem-solvers and creators. For Jenn, STEM at this level is about cultivating curiosity, confidence, and lifelong learning.
Follow Jenn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-gossert-513b74117/
https://www.psu.edu/news/education/story/5m-nsf-grant-enhance-elementary-stem-education-mid-atlantic?utm_audience=Staff&utm_source=newswire&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Penn%20State%20Today&utm_content=09-02-2025-21-16&utm_term=TopStories%20-%201

Lynn Prosen is a K–4 science and STREAMS instructor at Gill St. Bernard’s School in New Jersey with 26 years of experie...
06/16/2026


Lynn Prosen is a K–4 science and STREAMS instructor at Gill St. Bernard’s School in New Jersey with 26 years of experience spanning preschool through college. A former NJSTA president and 2022 NSTA award recipient, she champions hands-on, experiential STEM learning, professional collaboration, and nature-based play.
She applied to the STEM Pioneer program to refresh her teaching amid growing student reliance on screens, expand her impact through sharing best practices, and connect with other elementary STEM educators. As the sole science teacher in her division, she values building a network focused on sustaining curiosity and STEM identity in young learners.
Lynn highlights New Jersey’s diversity—from beaches to mountains—and its rich history of innovation. She also points to saltwater taffy as a fun, state-based way to teach material properties.
She believes elementary STEM is essential for developing problem-solving skills and helping students see the connections between disciplines and the real world. Early experiences shape how children think and engage, and she emphasizes that students should view themselves as creators, not just consumers, of the world around them.
She believes elementary STEM is critical, as it builds foundational understanding of the world through real-world connections and integrated learning—shaping how students think, explore, and engage for years to come.
Follow her on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynn-prosen/
https://www.psu.edu/news/education/story/5m-nsf-grant-enhance-elementary-stem-education-mid-atlantic?utm_audience=Staff&utm_source=newswire&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Penn%20State%20Today&utm_content=09-02-2025-21-16&utm_term=TopStories%20-%201

grateful to conclude our eighth and final session of the “Shaping AI in Education: A Pennsylvania Learning and Listeni...
06/11/2026

grateful to conclude our eighth and final session of the “Shaping AI in Education: A Pennsylvania Learning and Listening Tour,” conducted on behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). This virtual session featured engaging discussions sparked by brief presentations from our five Penn State AI content specialists.
We extend our appreciation to the collaborative team representing PSU CSATS, the Penn State College of Education, the Institute for Computational and Data Sciences, the Center for Applications of AI/ML to Industry, Penn State Extension, and our graduate students.
We will now synthesize insights gathered across all eight sessions and prepare a comprehensive report of findings for PDE. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of this meaningful initiative!

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