Steven C. Smith

NASA Education Specialist

Steven is the new NASA Education Specialist working with NASA’s Educator Professional Development Collaborative (EPDC) at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.  His current work supports Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) in inspiring the next generation of NASA scientists from among historically disenfranchised groups. Steven helps to develop, package, and deliver STEM curriculum related professional development that translates the work and discoveries of NASA for use in the classroom and helps teachers make content more accessible for all their students as individuals. He works with university pre-service educators, in-service, pre-service, and informal teachers all over the country, helping them create culturally responsive lessons that will engage students that have previously felt left out of the amazing work that NASA is doing.

He currently holds a Master’s Degree in Infrastructure Planning and Management from the University of Washington, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Neuropsychology from Georgia College and State University. Steven is beginning work on his Doctoral Degree in the Fall.  Prior to his work with NASA, Steven worked in K-12 education for nearly 20 years, most recently as Life Sciences Chair at a minority serving inner city school in Georgia.  He has taught Biology, Forensic Science, Anatomy and Physiology, Environmental Science, Earth and Space Science, and Physical science to special education, regular education, honors, and AP students in Georgia, Washington, and New Jersey.