Passion Based Teaching

K-12 STEAM education

San Gabriel Valley County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

To offer truly high-quality STEAM education, we must address the root issue: many educators—especially at elementary level—feel unprepared to teach STEAM. We already know that this isn’t from a lack of interest, but from a lack of confidence, support, and relevant training. Too often, professional development feels like a product pitch, focused on promoting robots, apps, or AI tools, rather than building teacher capacity. Flashy tech alone doesn’t create engaging classrooms—confident teachers do. A 3-day (or even 3-week) robotics workshop won’t transform a hesitant educator into someone who can inspire students. No matter how important AI, or cryptocurrency, or programming may be, giving teachers a script to read from without addressing their mindset will only lead to frustration and disengagement for both the educator and the student.

High-quality STEM education is driven by engaged, confident, & passionate educators. Passion-Based Teaching is a 6-session professional development course grounded in research-backed strategies that help teachers integrate STEM content with their own interests—whether it is music, sports, or whatever lights them up. Instead of following rigid, one-size-fits-all programs, participants begin with mindset development to address common barriers such as fear of failure & self-doubt—factors shown to limit instructional innovation.
The course incorporates evidence-based practices in teacher engagement, collaborative learning, & student-centered instruction. Educators engage in hands-on activities that promote risk-taking, build a culture of curiosity, & strengthen peer collaboration—key elements linked to improved student outcomes & teacher efficacy. They gain practical tools to design authentic, standards-aligned STEM experiences rooted in what excites them, which will make STEM more joyful, inclusive, & relevant. (A music lover might explore math through rhythm; a sports fan could dive into physics and innovation in athletics.)
The program culminates in The Passion Show—a community event where participants showcase their journey, student impact, and the evolution sparked by the program. Passion fuels curiosity, and curiosity fuels learning. Passion-Based Teaching will transform classrooms into spaces where learning feels impactful, innovative, and deeply connected.

Research shows that teacher confidence directly influences student achievement and engagement—yet a 2012 National Survey of Science and Mathematics Education found that only 40% of elementary teachers feel prepared to teach STEM. If the Passion-Based Teaching Project is implemented in Los Angeles, classrooms will transform. By helping teachers connect their passions to STEM instruction, this project will increase teacher confidence and capacity. Teachers will become more confident and empowered to teach STEM through what they love, leading to more authentic and engaging instruction. As a result, students will experience more relevant, hands-on learning, leading to improved engagement and performance—especially in underrepresented communities. Over time, this shift will ripple outward—creating a culture of curiosity, innovation, and lifelong learning that strengthens schools, uplifts communities, and helps Los Angeles flourish as a city that values both STEM education and imagination.