Christopher Speck

Albuquerque, NM | 7-12, Science, 2023

What motivates you to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching?

When I was a kid I loved throwing rocks in the Big Sioux River in back of my grandparent’s house. I quickly learned that lifting the heavy ones took more effort but made the biggest splashes. Teaching is the same. Ambitious teaching requires persistence, collaboration, and patience. I’ve had strong support in my career and I strive to honor that by teaching content that pushes students outside their comfort zone. That’s how you make the biggest splash in education.

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

Collaboration and mentorship are essential in education. No one can teach forever, and the only thing more rewarding than teaching your own students well is helping other teachers do the same for theirs. One of the most affirming experiences in my career has been seeing a former mentee thrive in the classroom, teaching with both skill and passion. Still, the greatest validation comes from my students. One of my former students was recently awarded a full scholarship covering both undergraduate and medical school. His accomplishments reflect his own determination, but knowing I contributed reminds me why I chose this profession. Supporting students as they discover and reach their potential is the most fulfilling part of my work.

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

I am deeply committed to advancing the lab-to-school pipeline. Scientific discovery outstrips the ability of textbooks and online curricula to remain current. Professional and university laboratories must partner with K–12 educators in the development of curriculum. This collaborative, symbiotic relationship enhances student outcomes: scientists contribute content knowledge, while teachers apply their expertise to make that knowledge accessible and meaningful in the classroom.

Biography

Christopher Speck has taught for over 20 years and currently teaches eighth grade science at Madison Middle School. He took on this role in 2024 after teaching science and mathematics for nine and a half years at Garfield STEM School. Previously, he spent one year each teaching mathematics at Ernie Pyle Middle School and Madison Middle School. The switch to middle school was preceded by seven years teaching third, fourth, and fifth grade at Tomasita Elementary, and one year each at Edward Gonzales, Painted Sky, and Lowell Elementary Schools. Chris believes that science is a means to understand the world. Teaching science is how he plants trees in whose shade he will never sit. Students engage in hands-on labs to guide inquiry and create understanding. These labs frequently make use of grant-funded materials and above grade–level topics including biotechnology and coral assisted evolution. Chris supplements his professional development in numerous ways. He was a content expert with the New Mexico Public Education Department as part of the High Quality Instructional Materials Initiative; participated in an Arctic expedition as part of his 2023 National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship; and was a visiting teacher at the Hawai’i Institute of Marine Biology. This followed two summers doing inorganic chemistry at Sandia National Labs Advanced Materials Lab. He also regularly presents at the New Mexico Science Teachers Association convention. Chris earned a B.S., cum laude, and an M.A., with distinction, in elementary education from the University of New Mexico. He is certified in kindergarten through eighth grade elementary education in New Mexico with an endorsement in the teaching of English to speakers of other languages.

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.