Bridging the Gap 2025 Schedule 2025

8:00 a.m.

Check-In/Breakfast

8:30 a.m.

for All Audiences
Auditorium
Welcome & Introduction
Suzanne Wilkison – NCABR

8:40 a.m.

Opening Keynote

for All Audiences
Auditorium
TBA

9:50 a.m.

Concurrent Sessions

for High School Audiences
Dogwood Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Using the Engineering Design Process and Hands-on Projects to Teach Teamwork and Resilience
Allison Lee – Campbell University

for Middle School Audiences 
Congressional Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Do NOT Sit Down and Be Quiet!
Carol Moore – STEM West

for Elementary School Audiences 
Board Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Using the SEPs to Teach Sound, Plants and Soil, and Changing Habitats in the Elementary Classroom
Rachael Polmanteer – The Center for Inquiry Based Learning (CIBL)
Melaine Rickard – The Center for Inquiry Based Learning (CIBL)
Todd Guentensberger – The Center for Inquiry Based Learning (CIBL)

for Middle School Audiences
Auditorium
TechSpace
Operation Outbreak
Todd Brown – The Broad Institute

10:50 a.m.

Concurrent Sessions

for High School Audiences
Dogwood Room
STEM for All
From Zero to AP: Expanding Access to Advanced Science Courses for All
Shannon Willaert – Lee County Schools
Amanda Penwell – Lee County Schools
Treshawn Penny – Lee County Schools

for Middle School Audiences 
Congressional Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
The Science of Immunity
Carla Rodriguez – Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA
Joy Eckert – Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA

for Elementary School Audiences 
Board Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
From Problems to Prototypes: Student-Led Environmental Design for Greener Campuses
Megan Burkoski – Wake County Public School System
Taylor Trotta – Wake County Public School System

for All Audiences
Auditorium
STEM for All
STEM School Improvement Through the Lens of NC STEM Schools of Distinction
Howard Ginsburg – N.C. Department of Public Instruction

for High School Audiences
Jordan Room
Industry Connections
Flight Forward: Connecting High School Students to Aviation Careers
Misty Sweat – Sullenberger Aviation Museum

11:50 a.m.

Concurrent Sessions

for High School Audiences
Dogwood Room
STEM for All
From Barriers to Breakthroughs: Building STEM Pathways in Underserved Communities
Charles Carter – Campbell University

for Middle School Audiences 
Congressional Room
STEM for All
Gizmos and Gadgets
Amy Fraboni – Greene County Schools
Hannah Moody – Greene County Schools

for Elementary School Audiences 
Board Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Incorporating Creativity and Art into Engineering Activities
Amy Isvik – North Carolina State University
Leah Bug – The Engineering Place

for Elementary School Audiences 
Auditorium
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
In our #STEMera: Our Journey Through the STEM School of Distinction Process
Christine Mitchell – Wilson County Schools
Casey Wester Wooten – Wilson County Schools
Tobie Vicidomini – Wilson County Schools

for High School Audiences
Jordan Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Energy as Project Based Learning in Science
Paige Jackson – Alexander County Schools

12:40 p.m.

Lunch & Exhibitor Showcase

1:40 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions

for High School Audiences
Dogwood Room
TechSpace
AI-Powered Curriculum Design: Strategies for Impactful Teaching and Learning
Reeshemah Johnson – Fayetteville State University
Claudette Fuller – Fayetteville State University
Kimberly Smith-Burton – Fayetteville State University

for Middle School Audiences 
Congressional Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Igniting Inquiry: Student-Led STEAM in AVID
Christine Sudzina Schut – Culbreth Middle School
AVID Middle School Students

for Elementary School Audiences 
Board Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
From Planning to Practice: Elevating STEM PD
Christine Mitchell – Wilson County Schools
Jenny Combs – Wilson County Schools

for All Audiences 
Auditorium
Industry Connections
Bridging Classrooms to Careers: How SummerSTEM Transforms Teaching Through Industry Immersion
Joshua Hunter – Wake County Public School System
Douglas Price – WakeEd Partnership

for High School Audiences
Jordan Room
Hands-On, Minds_On Instructional Practices
Transforming Math Education with PBL
Jessica Miller – Wake STEM Early College High School
Kathleen Grismer – Vernon Malone College and Career Academy

2:40 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions

for High School Audiences
Dogwood Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
The Maker Mindset: Transforming Secondary Learning with PBL and Makerspaces
Angelica Smith – North Wake College & Career Academy

for Middle School Audiences 
Congressional Room
Preparing and Teaching the Whole Child
The Zones of Regulation: A Framework to Foster Self-Regulation and Emotional Control
Ashley Blackmer – The Oakwood School

for Elementary School Audiences 
Board Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
The Superpowers of Succulents
Sunny Grothaus – Chiesi USA, Inc.

for Middle School Audiences 
Auditorium
TechSpace
The Science House Presents: Printing Possibilities: A Middle Grades Exploration of Biophysics With 3D Materials
Alonzo Alexander – The Science House
Jason Painter – The Science House

3:30 p.m.

Break & Exhibitor Showcase

3:50 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions

for High School Audiences
Dogwood Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
All About DNA
Patricia Velasco – Wayne County Public Schools

for Middle School Audiences 
Congressional Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
The Science House Presents: Using Phenomenal Phenomena
Michelle Taylor – The Science House
Lenora Crabtree – University of North Carolina at Charlotte

for Elementary School Audiences 
Board Room
STEM for All
All Learners Have All Access
Daniel Gridley – Conn Magnet Elementary School of Entrepreneurial Design
Caryll Orejola – Conn Magnet Elementary School of Entrepreneurial Design

for High School Audiences
Audiences
Preparing and Teaching the Whole Child
Finding Awe, Biodiversity and Belonging on NC’s Mountains to Sea Trail
Shannon Hardy – Wake Young Men’s Leadership Academy
Betsy Brown – Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail

4:40 p.m.

Adjourn

8:00 a.m.

Check-In/Breakfast

8:30 a.m.

Outreach Expo

Dogwood Room

for High School Audiences
NIIMBL biologic: Project-Based Learning to Inspire Life Sciences Careers
Chase Barnhill – North Carolina Biotechnology Center

for High School Audiences
Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership
Carrie Horton – Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership
Vance Kite – Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership
Mark Townley – Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership

for All Audiences
Mathematics and Science Education Center (MSEC) –More Than a STEM Resource Library
Chrystal Dean – Appalachian State University

for All Audiences
Wake Forest University School of Medicine Clarkson Campus Tours

for All Audiences
Operation Outbreak
Todd Brown – The Broad Institute

for All Audiences
American Society for Clinical Pathology
Lisa Cremeans – UNC Health

Congressional Room

for Elementary School Audiences
Sturgeon City Environmental Education Center
Jamie McIntire – Sturgeon City Environmental Education Center

for Elementary School Audiences
Explore Engineering with The Engineering Place at N.C. State University
Amy Isvik – North Carolina State University
Leah Bug – The Engineering Place

for Middle School Audiences
Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA

for All Audiences
Mobile STEAM Outreach – Engaging Communities in STEAM
Denise Johnson – Winston-Salem State University
Joann Thomas – Winston-Salem State University

for All Audiences
Empowering Science Educators: Building Leadership Through the North Carolina Science Leadership Association Fellows Program
Brad Rhew – Guilford County Schools
Alisa Wickliff – University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Pat Shane – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

for Elementary School Audiences for Middle School Audiences
Center for Inquiry-Based Learning

9:20 a.m.

Break & Exhibitor Showcase

9:40 a.m.

Concurrent Sessions

for High School Audiences
Dogwood Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Students as Innovator Advocates: Embedding Innovation Design in a High School Research Seminar
Kate Wernersbach – Wake Early College of Health and Sciences

for Middle School Audiences 
Congressional Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Teaching Change Through Time and Evolution through the Use of Models, Data Analysis and Argument
Melaine Rickard – The Center for Inquiry Based Learning (CIBL)
Rachael Polmanteer – The Center for Inquiry Based Learning (CIBL)
Todd Guentensberger – The Center for Inquiry Based Learning (CIBL)

for Elementary School Audiences for Middle School Audiences 
Board Room
Spanning Silos
Evolution of a Mathematics Clinic
Chrystal Dean – Appalachian State University

for High School Audiences
Auditorium
TechSpace
Operation Outbreak
Todd Brown – The Broad Institute

for Middle School Audiences 
Jordan Room
Preparing and Teaching the Whole Child
Engaging Rural Middle School Students in Authentic STEM Learning Experiences through Innovative Course Design
Tameshia Baldwin – North Carolina State University
LaTricia Townsend – North Carolina State University

10:40 a.m.

Concurrent Sessions

for High School Audiences
Dogwood Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Real Learning in Real Places
Danielle McCaslin – Wake County Public School System
Holly Whittington – Wake County Public School System

for High School Audiences
Congressional Room
Spanning Silos
STEAgM: Promoting Synergy between Agriculture and STEM
Robert Cobb Jr. – North Carolina A&T State University
Paula  Faulkner – North Carolina A&T State University
Harmandeep Sharma – North Carolina A&T State University

for Elementary School Audiences
Board Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Ignite STEM: Connecting Classrooms to N.C. Olympiad Events
Jayne Carlisle – N.C. Science Olympiad
Jason Painter – The Science House
Valerie Bass – The Science House

for Middle School Audiences
Auditorium
Tech Space
The Science House Presents: Everyday AI in K-12 Science Classrooms: What to Try, Teach, and Tweak
Marsha Sirkin – The Science House

for All Audiences
Jordan Room
Spanning Silos
Supporting the NC Science Festival at Community Colleges
Courtney Behrle – BioNetwork
Khylah Still – BioNetwork

11:40 a.m.

Concurrent Sessions

for High School Audiences
Dogwood Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Splice, Splice Baby: Integrating Art and Science
MK Baker – Wake STEM Early College High School
Cassandra McClellan – Wake STEM Early College High School

for Middle School Audiences
Congressional Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Wearable Paper Circuits
Lily Dancy-Jones – BioNetwork

for Elementary School Audiences
Board Room
TechSpace
Smart Starts: Integrating AI into the Elementary Classroom for Deeper Learning
Natalie Hulbert – N.C. Department of Public Instruction

for High School Audiences
Auditorium
Spanning Silos
Real Teaching with Real Data
Lacey Brown – North Carolina State University
Katy May – North Carolina State University

for Middle School Audiences
Jordan Room
STEM for All
Having Fun with the M in STEM
Donna Heavner – STEM West

12:30 p.m.

Lunch & Exhibitor Showcase

1:30 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions

for High School Audiences
Dogwood Room
STEM for All
Full STEAM Ahead: Transforming Learning for All
Karla Miner – Davie County High School
Tani Caudle – Davie County High School
Matthew Barker – Davie County High School

for Middle School Audiences
Congressional Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Ignite STEM: Connecting Classrooms to N.C. Science Olympiad Events
Jayne Carlisle – N.C. Science Olympiad
Jason Painter – The Science House
Valerie Bass – The Science House

for Elementary School Audiences
Board Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Yeehaw! Resource Roundup with NC Ag in the Classroom
Heather Morton – N.C. Farm Bureau Federation

for All Audiences
Auditorium
Teacher Delight
Ag and STEM Connect: Strengthening the STEAgM Pipeline through Professional Development for Middle and High School Educators
Jennifer Beasley – North Carolina A&T State University
Paula Faulkner – North Carolina A&T State University

for Middle School Audiences
Jordan Room
Preparing and Teaching the Whole Child
Growing Minds: Using NC Check-In Data to Cultivate Student Motivation and STEM Thinking
Valerie Sellars – Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools

2:30 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions

for Middle School Audiences for High School Audiences
Dogwood Room
STEM for All
Breaking Barriers: Inclusive Approaches to STEM Education for Underrepresented Groups
Michelle Shomo Pierce – Mallard Creek STEM Academy

for Middle School Audiences
Congressional Room
TechSpace
SceneCraft: Designing AI-Generated Narrative Games for Middle & High School Classrooms
Joe Meléndez – The Friday Institute for Educational Innovation

for Elementary School Audiences
Board Room
STEM for All
See the Unseen: Hidden STEM Heroes and Filters to See Hidden Messages
Rhea Miles – East Carolina University

for All Audiences
Auditorium
Teacher Delight
Leadership: Tools Needed for STEM Leaders in NC Today
Alisa Wickliff – University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Brad Rhew – Guilford County School
Pat Shane – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

for High School Audiences
Jordan Room
Industry Connections
A Critical Need for Geologists in the Job Market
Amy Pitts – North Carolina Geological Survey

3:30 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions

for High School Audiences
Dogwood Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Robot Revolution: Supercharge High-School STEM Education
Julia Wagner – FIRST North Carolina
Anna Cloud – FIRST North Carolina

for Middle School Audiences  for High School Audiences
Congressional Room
STEM for All
From Learners to Leaders: Empowering Youth Through STEM Mentorship
Sheronica Sharp – 4H/STEM

for Middle School Audiences
Board Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Modeling Energy in K-12 Science
Noa Stuchiner – Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
Valerie Sellars – Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools

for Middle School Audiences
Auditorium
Spanning Silos
Exploring AI in Advanced Manufacturing through Hands-on Problem-based Learning: A Summer Residential Program for Rural Middle School Students
Donald McCoy – North Carolina State University
Anthony Bowser – North Carolina State University
Tameshia Baldwin – North Carolina State University

for High School Audiences
Jordan Room
Preparing and Teaching the Whole Child
Sparking Curiosity with Investigative Phenomena
Lily Dancy-Jones – BioNetwork

4:20 p.m.

Adjourn