Developing Elementary Engineering Schools: From Planning to Practice and Results

Elizabeth Parry is an engineer and consultant in K-12 STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) Curriculum and Professional Development and the Coordinator of K-20 STEM Partnership Development at the College of Engineering at North Carolina State University. For the past 15 years, she has worked extensively with students from kindergarten to graduate school, parents, and pre-service and in-service teachers to both educate and excite them about engineering. As the Co-PI and Project Director of a National Science Foundation GK-12 grant, Parry developed a highly effective tiered mentoring model for graduate and undergraduate engineering and education teams, as well as a popular Family STEM event offering for both elementary and middle school communities. Current projects include providing comprehensive professional development and program consulting for multiple K-8 STEM using engineering schools, serving as a regional partner for the Museum of Science, Boston’s Engineering is Elementary curriculum program, and participating in the Family Engineering project. She currently serves as the Chair of the American Society for Engineering Education K-12 and Pre-college Division. Other professional affiliations include the International Technology Education Association, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the National Science Teachers Association and serving on the Board of Directors for the Triangle Coalition for STEM Education. Prior to joining NCSU, Parry worked in engineering and management positions at IBM Corporation for ten years and co-owned an informal science education business.