Cindy Hasselbring

Milan, MI | 7-12, Mathematics, 2005

What motivates you to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching?

Although I have not been in the classroom for more than ten years, my former students continue to inspire me to promote excellence in STEM teaching. Since leaving the classroom, my passion is to help educators find the resources they need to provide quality STEM education in their classrooms. I have provided numerous presentations, both keynotes and breakout sessions sharing educator resources that provide rigor, inspiration, and authentic learning opportunities for students.

What has been the most transformative moment that affirmed your impact on STEM education?

The honor I received of a lifetime was being asked to serve as Assistant Director for STEM Education at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, 2019-21. I was immensely proud that the Administration asked a former educator to lead STEM education within the federal government. This was especially meaningful as a recipient of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. It was my own unique way to give back to the profession I care so deeply about as well as serve my country.

Using your platform as a Presidential Awardee, how do you hope to advance our nation in STEM?

Although not in the classroom any longer, I still have a strong passion of helping students see themselves in STEM careers. They are critical for the national security, global competitiveness and innovation of our country. Each year, I volunteer to help lead a high school girls aviation camp that encourages young women to pursue careers in aviation. I help recruit women from around the country and in all walks of aviation life to participate as mentors.

Biography

Cindy Hasselbring serves as Integration Manager, Office of STEM Engagement, at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and previously served as a K-12 Education Advisor for Next Gen STEM in NASA’s OSTEM. In this role, she led the development of NASA’s first online community of practice for educators and led educator professional development. While serving as Assistant Director and Senior Policy Advisor for STEM Education at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Cindy served as subject matter expert on STEM education for the President’s Council of Advisors of Science and Technology, co-chaired five interagency subcommittees and working groups, and led the development of a Strategic Plan supporting veterans and military spouses to pursue careers in STEM. Cindy led STEM initiatives at the Maryland State Department of Education including the expansion of computer science, development of a youth apprenticeship program, and conducting STEM education workshops for Maryland educators. Cindy completed two years as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow at the National Science Foundation where she worked in the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics in Science Teaching program during her first year. In her second year, she supported the development of the former Federal STEM education strategic plan. While serving as Senior Director of the High School Aviation Initiative at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Cindy led efforts to build a four-year aviation STEM curriculum. Cindy has 16 years of teaching experience as a high school mathematics teacher at Milan High School (MI), was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and achieved National Board Certification.

The views expressed in awardee profiles are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of NSF or the PAEMST program.