Why STEMWISE?

A classroom problem, and a summer solution

STEM fields continue to grow, and early, hands on exposure can help students discover interests, build confidence, and prepare for what’s next. With the many demands of the classroom, creating meaningful, hands on STEM experiences for every student can be challenging, even for dedicated, passionate educators.

STEMWISE was created to help bridge that gap. It gives students opportunities to keep building, testing, and creating, with the time and space to engage directly with their work rather than simply learning about it.

Just as important, STEMWISE believes STEM education should go beyond technical skills. Students need opportunities to communicate, collaborate, present, and share their ideas, practical skills that can serve them in any career they pursue. And above all, STEM should be engaging and rewarding enough that students are excited to keep coming back.

Kevin Welch

Kevin has spent about 10 years teaching STEM, robotics, and science in Tennessee classrooms. Along the way, he kept seeing the same thing: teachers and students wanted more resources and more time to really dig into STEM than a typical school day allows.

STEMWISE grew out of that need — a way to give students the hands-on time and real projects that build both STEM skills and confidence.

What Kevin loves most about teaching is helping students discover what they enjoy and finding the things they’re naturally curious about. He loves watching students come up with clever solutions to difficult problems and seeing them gain confidence along the way.

Outside of teaching, Kevin serves in the AV department at North Boulevard Church of Christ’s West Campus. He also enjoys anything Star Wars, working on far too many projects at once, and losing to his daughter in Mario Kart.