named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Coaching & Consulting
Customized support for individual teachers, schools, and districts seeking to improve STEM instruction, including one-on-one coaching and schoolwide planning.
Graduate Courses with CUNY
Credit-bearing graduate coursework co-offered with the City College of New York School of Education, focusing on urban climate change, project-based learning, computational thinking, and elementary STEM.
STEM Teacher Workshops
Hands-on professional development sessions led by active classroom educators, covering topics such as NGSS-aligned unit planning, standards-based grading, engineering design, and subject-specific pedagogy across K–12 STEM disciplines.
Summer STEM Institute
Annual summer program offering short courses, intensives, and Regents-aligned support for K–12 educators, including deep dives into new NYS science labs and computational modeling.
Teacher Leader Pathway
Leadership development program that prepares experienced educators to design and facilitate professional learning for their peers.
Teacher Working Groups
Ongoing collaborative communities where STEM educators exchange resources, troubleshoot classroom challenges, and co-develop instructional strategies.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Educator Conferences & Professional Development Events 3 activities
- Advocacy and representation in professional STEM education networksRepresents the organization at national conferences such as NSTA to advocate for teacher-led professional development and share best practices in STEM education.
- Community engagement and outreach events for STEM educatorsHosts professional gatherings, including the SNIPPETS series and the annual Celebration of STEM Teaching and Community, to connect teachers with researchers and highlight partnerships among educators, communities, and academic institutions. Produces event recaps and shares highlights to inspire broader participation.
- Leadership and working group programs for STEM educatorsOrganizes and convenes specialized working groups—including Physics Teachers, Earth Science, Cracking Chemistry, Harnessing AI for Educators, and Equity Lab—to foster collaboration, resource-sharing, and advocacy among STEM teachers. Conducts annual Leadership Development Workshops for master-teachers nationwide to train future professional development leaders.
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Teacher Professional Development 2 activities
- Professional development workshops for K–12 STEM teachersOffers hands-on, teacher-led professional development workshops across the New York metropolitan area and nationally, covering topics such as NGSS/NYSSLS-aligned instruction, Regents Biology and Earth Science labs, standards-based grading, and computational modeling. Provides Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) credits for qualifying workshops and delivers over 150 workshops annually, reaching over 250 teachers each year and more than 7,500 educators since inception.
- Research on STEM teaching practices and curriculum integrationConducts ongoing research on Computational Modeling Physics First (CMPF) to evaluate how Bootstrap training enhances teacher skills and identity in integrating computer technology with physics instruction.
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Program Evaluation and Impact Research 1 activity
- Alumni engagement and program evaluationConducts annual outreach to professional development alumni through surveys, reunions, and follow-up workshops to assess impact and improve offerings.
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Hands-On STEM Education Programs 1 activity
- Curriculum co-development and place-based learning initiativesPartners with DA4All, NYSCI, and NYC Parks to co-develop curriculum bridges in data science and free, place-based K–12 STEM lessons that integrate stewardship, critical thinking, and outdoor learning. Co-develops a nine-credit microcredential in climate change, systems thinking, and sustainability using the Ecology Disrupted curriculum and real-world fieldwork.
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Teacher & Classroom Innovation Grants 1 activity
- Equity-focused scholarship program for underserved schoolsProvides the Wanninkhof Excellence in Teaching Scholarship, which funds up to two free professional development workshops per teacher at Title 1 or similar high-need schools to increase access to high-quality STEM training.
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Project-Based Learning Programs 1 activity
- Support for student-led research through Scientist in Residence programImplements the NYAS Scientist in Residence program by matching scientists with NYC public school teachers to co-develop year-long student research projects, supported by orientation sessions, institutes, and professional learning workshops.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$514K
Contributions & grants$401K78%
Program service revenue$94K18%
Investment income$19K4%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$430K
Program expenses74%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$110K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$705K
Cash$642K
Investments$0
Liabilities$7K
Net assets$697K
Liquid reserves17.9 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +19.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 7
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| YADANA DESMOND | Executive Dir. | 5 | $70K |
| JASON SULLIVAN | MEMBER-AT-LARGE | 1 | $15K |
| CRAIG BUSZKA | CFO | 2 | $12K |
| KATE MACAULAY | MEMBER-AT-LARGE | 1 | $3K |
| MARTINA MEIJER | VICE-CHAIR | 2 | $2K |
| ALLAN POWE | MEMBER-AT-LARGE | 1 | $975 |
| ELISSA LEVY | Secretary | 1 | $900 |
board members · 11
- ANN THIBODEAU — Treasurer
- ERIC NEWCOMER — MEMBER-AT-LARGE
- ERIC WALTERS — MEMBER-AT-LARGE
- FERNAND BRUNSCHWIG — FOUNDER
- HOWARD SPEGEL — MEMBER-AT-LARGE
- JULIETTE GUARINO BERG — Chairman
- KERRY KLINE — VICE CHAIR
- PAUL MARKS — MEMBER-AT-LARGE
- QIAO FENG — MEMBER-AT-LARGE
- RAY EASON — MEMBER&CHAIR FN
- SETH GUINALS-KUPPERMAN — MEMBER-AT-LARGE
relationships · 46
Who they work with
- AMNH Partner — Gilder Graduate School at AMNH is represented on the board, indicating institutional affiliation and partnership.
- American Modeling Teachers Association Partner — Collaborates on Leadership Development Workshops to train Modeling Workshop leaders.
- American Museum of Natural History Partner — Collaborates on teacher training programs, including mentorship and certification pathways.
- American Museum of Natural History Partner — Participated as an exhibitor at the 2026 Celebration of STEM Teaching event.
- Billion Oyster Project Partner — Participated as an exhibitor at the 2026 Celebration of STEM Teaching event.
- BioBus Partner — Participated as an exhibitor at the 2026 Celebration of STEM Teaching event.
- CCNY School of Education Partner — Collaborating on a nine-credit microcredential in Climate Change, Systems Thinking, and Sustainability.
- CUNY Partner — Collaborates to offer free workshop access to pre-service teachers training to become teachers.
- CUNY Partner — Partners with CUNY to offer free workshop access to pre-service teachers.
- CUNY City College of NY Partner — Hosts professional development workshops at its campus facilities.
- City College of NY Partner — Host location for in-person and hybrid summer STEM workshops.
- City College of NY Partner — Hosts professional development workshops at the North Academic Center building.
- City College of New York Partner — Hosts Summer STEM Institute workshops in Manhattan.
- Colleen Megowan-Romanowicz Partner — Collaborates on the Computational Modeling Physics First (CMPF) research program.
- DA4All Partner — Collaborates on DataWise K12! to develop data science curriculum bridges with teachers and data scientists.
- Fairfax County Public Schools Partner — Board member based in Fairfax County Public Schools signals regional outreach and partnership beyond NYC.
- Genspace Partner — Participated as an exhibitor at the 2026 Celebration of STEM Teaching event.
- Hudson Montessori School Partner — Board member affiliation indicates partnership with Montessori-aligned institutions in STEM teaching.
- Hunter College Elementary School Partner — Board member affiliation indicates institutional connection and potential collaboration in STEM education.
- Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum Partner — Participated as an exhibitor at the 2026 Celebration of STEM Teaching event.
- Lehman College School of Ed Partner — Co-hosts the annual Celebration of STEM Teaching and Community.
- Lehman College School of Education Partner — Hosted the 2026 Celebration of STEM Teaching event.
- Montgomery Township School District Partner — Board member affiliation reflects cross-district collaboration in STEM education leadership.
- Montgomery Township School District Partner — Collaborates to develop a cadre of K-3 science teachers in the New York Metropolitan Area.
- NASA GISS Government — Stakeholder in strategic and technical projects integrating real-world data and digital tools into classrooms.
- NSTA Network — Participates in the National Science Teaching Association conference as part of professional engagement.
- NY Agriculture in the Classroom Partner — Participated as an exhibitor at the 2026 Celebration of STEM Teaching event.
- NYC Parks Partner — Partners on SPARKS! to integrate outdoor, place-based learning into K–12 STEM teaching with free lesson resources.
- NYSCI Partner — Collaborates on DataWise K12! to develop data science learning progressions with teachers and data scientists.
- NYSSLS Government — Aligns professional development workshops with New York State Science Learning Standards (NYSSLS).
+ 16 more
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Hands-On, Practical Professional Learningmethodology: hands-on_professional_developmentBy grounding professional development in hands-on exploration of lab materials and immediately usable classroom strategies, teachers gain confidence and competence in implementing new methods. This experiential approach mirrors effective student learning and supports fidelity of implementation.
- Inquiry-Based, Student-Centered Learning Modelmethodology: inquiry_based_learningBy designing instruction around phenomena, modeling, and guided inquiry, students engage in science practices that mirror authentic scientific work, fostering deeper conceptual understanding. This approach shifts learning from memorization to sense-making, aligning with NGSS and NYSSLS standards to build enduring knowledge.
- Researcher-Teacher Knowledge Exchangemethodology: researcher-teacher_engagementBy connecting STEM teachers directly with active researchers, classroom instruction is enriched with current scientific practices and content, bridging the gap between research and teaching. This collaboration enhances authenticity and rigor in STEM education.
- Standards-Aligned Assessment & Feedback for Equitymethodology: standards-based-assessmentBy using standards-based assessment and itemized, objective-aligned feedback, the organization clarifies expectations and supports mastery-based learning, reducing inequities in student outcomes. This promotes a growth mindset by focusing on progress toward defined competencies rather than normative comparison.
- Teacher-Led Professional Developmentmethodology: teacher_led_professional_developmentBy using active STEM teachers as designers and facilitators of professional learning, the organization ensures that training is grounded in real classroom experience and practical application, which increases relevance and adoption among PK-12 educators. This approach builds collective efficacy by positioning practitioners as experts in their own development.