I was the founding director of the SMU Maker Education Project from 2017-2018.

The SMU Maker Education Project is dedicated to inspiring transformational maker-based learning experiences for students in the K12 system. Their mission is to support the academic integration of the maker education movement in K12 schools in a sustainable way that creates a lasting change. By leveraging new and emerging technologies and tools in combination with supportive, student-centered facilitation, they believe maker education can develop students who are self-actualized, resilient and excited to take on the toughest challenges of the 21st century and beyond.

As the founding director, I collaborated with a team to envision a new educational outreach program based at SMU and building on the momentum of the SparkTruck program.

Click here to see a short video about the project.

Our team provided professional development experiences for schools and designed tools & resources and curriculum for teachers to implement in the classroom.

In this capacity, I worked with the following schools:

• The Lamplighter School, Dallas, TX

  • Click here for a case study detailing my work coaching the Lamplighter School to integrate maker education into their curriculum.

  • Click here for a case study describing my work coaching the 4th Grade at the Lamplighter School to integrate design thinking into their project work.

  • “In the last two years, Katie has come to Lamplighter for whole group and small group sessions where she introduced and reinforced concepts related to design thinking. I most appreciate her "team time lunch meetings" where she spent an hour discussing large projects that teachers wanted to implement. It was under Katie's tutelage that our faculty grew so rapidly in their knowledge and confidence.”

    - Vicki Rainey, Assistant Head of School, The Lamplighter School

• Solar Prep School for Girls, Dallas Independent School District, Dallas, TX

  • Click here for a case study detailing my work coaching Solar Prep to integrate maker education into their curriculum.

  • Click here for a case study describing my work coaching the 3rd Grade at Solar Prep to integrate design thinking into their project work.

  • “Over two years, Katie worked with Solar Prep teachers on a bi-weekly basis to refine the curriculum  and train teachers in Maker Education concepts. She was able to transfer her knowledge to our teachers in  a way that was easy to understand and motivating. Because of Katie’s ability to guide and support teachers in such a positive and engaging way, they are now able to share their knowledge with other schools and educators. Although we are disappointed that Katie is leaving Dallas, we are confident that  the skills and knowledge that she shared at Solar Prep will allow us to sustain a successful Maker Education program well into the future. Not only was Katie providing much-needed leadership to teachers at Solar Prep, she was doing the same  at dozens of other schools in Dallas, creating excitement for Maker Education across the city. Katie has truly made a great impact on the education community in Dallas.”

    - Jennifer Turner, Assistant Principal, Solar Prep School for Girls

• Duncanville ISD, Dallas, TX

• Greenhill School, Dallas, TX

• Highland Park ISD, Highland Park, TX

• Azle ISD, Azle, TX

• Lewisville ISD, Lewisville, TX

• Allen ISD, Allen, TX

• CityLab High School, Dallas Independent School District, Dallas, TX

• TI STEM Academy, Dallas Independent School District, Dallas, TX