Inspiring Science Teachers

What does it really take to shift a science classroom from covering content to helping students make sense of phenomena? In this episode, Chris Stoker talks with Emily and Jamie about the lessons they learned while leading an Idaho Science Teaching Association book study on Ambitious Science Teaching (AST). Practical tips discussed about AST strategies: they force students to think more deeply the...

For this episode Becky and Chris interview Branzell Porchia, STEM Program Manager, and Amanda Paterson, Computer Science Program Manager with WDC + STEM.  They have a great passion for connecting  teachers and kids with stem resources in our state.  Two take aways: 1) the big impact we can have on students when we give them powerful learning experiences and 2) the vast number of opportunities that...

In this episode Chris shares 4 things he would do if he were jumping back into a classroom to start February. These are ideas that would hopefully help when your class (or you) are starting to drag before spring break.  They are 1) stop explaining so much, 2) simplify and streamline, 3) protect your energy, and 4) double down on what works.

In this episode, Chris interviews 5 students about the Idaho EcosySTEM Student Ambassador program. Through this program, students in 6-12th grade engage in hands-on projects, participate in industry tours, and build collaboration and leadership skills while making a meaningful impact in their school and community. It is modeled after the Chief Science Officer Program. Learn more here .

In this episode, Becky and Chris interviewed Carrie and Camp, two educators from the New England Innovation Academy (NEIA) near Boston.  They are doing some great things with students, and we are excited to share the conversation with you.  Even though they teach are a small innovative school, almost all of their ideas could be implemented in any school setting.  

Billy Almon was a keynote speaker at the 2025 Idaho STEM Conference in Meridian Idaho on July 30-August 1st, 2025. Billy's bio: Over the last 10 years Billy has been traveling the globe exploring how biological strategies can be used to inspire solutions for humans, a concept known as Biomimicry. Billy is also the co-host of Little Giants, a tv series on Animal Planet. For more than a decade B...

Hi and welcome to the Inspiring Science Teachers' Podcast. My name is Chris Stoker and on this show, we love to interview teachers and pick their brains for some of the great lessons and ideas they've developed for teaching science. For this episode, Becky and I interviewed Lingpei Zou, a middle school teacher in Rigby Idaho. Lingpei has an interesting story of coming to this country from...

I was recently looking over some curriculum we had written for a middle school science about waves, and I wondered why this standard was so different from how we have traditional taught the subject.  It seemed to focus on a different part - more on how the waves interact with and move through a material. Then it dawned on me, this standard is really about material science.   For this episode, Beck...

For this episode, Becky and I interviewed Jaime Clark, an 8th grade earth science teacher in American Falls. Jaime shared an engaging activity with rocks and minerals, what intrigues her about metamorphic rock, and a great science fair event she runs each year that involves the elementary, the high school and the community. Jaimie also talked about how much better she has become at training studen...

For this episode, Becky and I interviewed ReBekha Lulu a former elementary teacher and now the STEM Hub Coordinator for Southwest Idaho. ReBekha shared a great lesson involving 3D printing, a new Student Leadership program in STEM for 6-12 graders, and upcoming STEM convenings throughout the state. There are two things that ReBekha said that I really loved. The first came as she was giving us her...

For this episode, Becky and I interviewed Gina Kwid, a 2nd grade teacher and a STEM enthusiast!  Gina shared a great milkweed experiment she did with her kids, talked about the importance of networking, and summarized that STEM skills are really about being a thinker. This year Gina was recognized as state finalist for the national Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teach...

This episode marks the podcast's two years anniversary and I'm very happy with how things have gone.  My goal was, and still is, to simply share the good stuff from those who are in the trenches, you all who are continually learning and improving your craft every day in classrooms.  I wanted to showcase regular teachers who are doing inspiring things and that would hopefully encourage and inspire...

For this episode, Becky and I interviewed Tanya Elmer, a high school chemistry teacher and the president of the Idaho Science Teaching Association. She shared about her "Famous Chocolate Lab"  which is an engaging activity that helps students better understand intermolecular forces.  She also talked about what she's learned about leadership and the importance of getting involved.  My favorite part...

For this episode, Becky and I interviewed Andrea Baerwald, the Science Coordinator for the Idaho Department of Education. We had some great conversations about professional development, getting involved with state-led committees and using the state science coaches.  She also shared a favorite lesson called "Outrageous Organisms" that grew from a fun and engaging activity to became more of an ancho...

For the kickoff to season 3, I interviewed 4 teachers (Jacob, Allyson, Jeff, and Britton) at the annual STEM conference held this year in Coeur d'Alene Idaho. We chatted about what they felt inspired to do from the conference and/or what inspires them in general. They shared some great takeaways and insights. And I think you'll find this particularly interesting: two of them are team teach...

For this episode, Becky and I interviewed Daisey Horner, a high school science teacher from Idaho Fine Arts Academy in Meridian.  One of the things that she shared was of her challenges in seeing students struggle with confidence and how she has tried to help.  In preparation for this interview, she asked her students what they thought about the culture in her class and one of them said, "We...

For this episode, Becky and I interviewed Karen Miller, an 8th grade physical science teacher at Eagle Middle School in the Boise area. Karen is retiring after this year and since she's from our home district we have worked with her many times and had a fantastic conversation about what's she's learned over her 33 year career. One of her tips for us was to get kids to ask their own que...

For this episode, I interviewed Natalie Moerer, a 1st grade teacher at Hansen Elementary in southern Idaho. Natalie has lived and taught abroad and so has a unique perspective on the importance of supporting multilingual Learners.  She also is firm believer in strong classroom management skills and building a class culture where students try to better themselves and cheer each other on, rather tha...

For this episode, Becky and I interviewed Tama Naden, a kindergarten teacher at Orofino Elementary School in North Central Idaho. Tama is a 30 yr veteran and she some shared some really great thoughts with us.  Here were some of my favorite lines: "Hope starts in schools"; "Teachers love to learn"; "Our profession demands collaboration"; "It's not best for ki...

For this episode, I interviewed Liesel Christensen, a teacher at Pocatello High School. Liesel shared how she is focusing on shifting her labs from a traditional format to more of a true investigation where they get to use their agency to dig into the content. It was clear that she wants her students to experience the wonder of science. As a good example of this, as she spoke about why she likes d...

For this episode, Becky and I interviewed Emily Sahra, a teacher at Post Falls high school in Northern Idaho.  Emily shared the power of using phenomena in your classroom and then illustrated it by sharing one of her lessons that involves swans washing up dead each year on Lake Coeur d'Alene. It sucked us right in!  Overall, Emily thoughts were practical and yet insightful and centered around...

For this episode, I interview Jess Young, a middle science teacher in the Vallivue School District.  Jess has 25 years of teaching experience, is passionate about science and helping 6th graders transition to middle school, and she raved about a recent externship that she says has been next -level PD for her.  Last month she received the Dr Becca Wills Outsanding Educator Award in Idaho. I think y...

For this episode, Becky and I, interview Ashley Schaffner, the STEM ecosystem hub coordinator for the south central and eastern part of the Idaho (ISEE STEM). She'll explain more of that later as well as give us a broader understanding of the definition of STEM. Ashely has a great passion for getting kids thinking and solving real world problems. In particular, we loved her lesson on "Cod...

For this episode, my colleague Becky Feekes and I, interviewed the Idaho Science Coaches that work for the State Department of Education. Their job is to go out and help teachers improve science instruction, teacher by teacher and school by school. I loved the tips they shared, but if I'm being honest, I loved their stories of why and how they got into education the most. These coaches have fa...

This episode is a series of short interviews with teachers at the 2023 Idaho STEM conference. They were asked one question: what do you do at the beginning of the year to develop a positive classroom culture?  Their answers were interesting. Although those interviewed taught various grades from elementary to high school, certain themes emerged: connecting with others, feeling safe, and learning to...