Cynthia Colomb

Farmington, NM | K-6, Science, 2014

What motivates you to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching?

I'm driven to advance STEM teaching by ensuring all students, especially those underserved, engage in meaningful, inquiry-based learning. As a PAEMST Awardee, I helped implement the OpenSciEd curriculum, utilizing storylining to guide teachers in three-dimensional, phenomenon-based instruction, as well as immersive education in the classroom. Seeing students develop critical thinking through authentic discourse motivates my ongoing commitment to equity and excellence in STEM education.

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

The most transformative moment that affirmed my impact on STEM education was leading a three-year pilot of the OpenSciEd curriculum after receiving the PAEMST Award. As a facilitator, I supported teachers in my state in adopting NGSS-aligned, phenomenon-based instruction using the storylining approach. This work empowered educators and engaged students—especially those historically underserved—in inquiry, modeling, and evidence-based reasoning. Seeing shifts in both teaching practices and student outcomes affirmed my role in advancing equitable, high-quality STEM education.

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

I advance STEM education by transforming our science fair into an immersive, virtual experience. Partnering with the Immersive Education Initiative, we trained educators and doubled the number of students participating. This model boosts engagement, informs classroom learning, and supports workforce readiness. I continue to mentor teachers, promote tech-focused professional development, and advocate for immersive learning to prepare students for a diverse and evolving STEM workforce.

Biography

Cynthia (Cindy) Colomb Sixth Grade Science Teacher, Hermosa Middle School – Farmington Municipal Schools Cynthia (Cindy) Colomb is an innovative and dedicated science educator with over 24 years of experience at Hermosa Middle School in Farmington, New Mexico. With a deep passion for inquiry-based learning, she has served as both the district science fair coordinator and her school’s science fair sponsor, empowering hundreds of students to explore and present original research annually. She has recently partnered with Immersive Education to develop an advanced Immersive and Mixed Reality Science Fair Program. Cindy is known for pioneering classroom innovation, including the early adoption of video conferencing to connect her students with peers in Hawaii in a collaborative, project-based Earth science unit. She also founded the popular Family Shark/Lamprey Dissection Night, where students and their families engage in real-life scientific investigation, promoting family involvement in STEM learning. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Phillips University and an M.A. in Pedagogy and Learning, with an emphasis in Reading, from Eastern New Mexico University. Certified to teach grades K–8 and endorsed in TESOL. She is currently a Nationally Board-Certified Teacher of Adolescent Science. Cindy brings both expertise and passion to her classroom, striving to make science relevant, rigorous, and accessible to all learners. Her efforts serve as a model for how instructional leadership and visionary program development can enhance STEM education and shape the next generation of innovators, researchers, and problem solvers.

High-resolution version of the official portrait photograph
Awardee holding Presidential certificate between Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director, Dr. John P. Holdren, and Assistant Director, Directorate for Education and Human Resources, National Science Foundation, Dr. Joan Ferrini-Mundy.
High-resolution version of the teacher profile photograph

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