Kate is a STEM Education Specialist contracted to the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, where she works at the intersection of curiosity, creativity, and scientific discovery. A former middle school science teacher and Einstein Fellow at the National Air and Space Museum, she loves finding ways to blend formal and informal education to make science feel relevant (and fun!). She lives in Charlottesville with her husband, son, and dog, and spends her free time trail running and drinking way too much coffee.

Svea is a STEM Education Specialist contracted to the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, where she is able to dive into basic science research content and share out the latest amazing discoveries with K-12 students and educators. Svea is a former science teacher of many grades, PAEMST Awardee, and was the inaugural Albert Einstein Fellow at Homeland Security where she dove deep into her current jam, cybersecurity. Svea's happy place is Alaska, she loves fly fishing, identifying plants on walks, and just being outdoors. She lives in Arlington with her teenage daughter and her sassy chinchilla, Nellie Bly. 

Melissa loves good music, Low Country cooking, and engaging conversation. She is fascinated by compelling fiction, science fiction, and the vast mysteries of the universe. Melissa is a STLA mentor and a Resource Teacher in Fairfax County Public Schools. A former 3rd–6th grade teacher, she resides in the Falls Church/Vienna area of Virginia.

Steve is a math teacher working in an alternative high school program in Fairfax County, Virginia. He moved here from Arizona after teaching 22 years of middle and high school math and science. Before becoming a teacher, he was a police officer and a Marine. He has dedicated most of his adult life to the service of others. He has 4 children and 5 grand children and spends as much time as possible traveling and exploring new places with his wife. The number one thing on his bucket list is to travel to and explore Italy and it’s amazing history!

Shannon is the Manager of Youth and Teacher Programs, leading an amazing team of educators who facilitate camps, field trips, and teacher PD. This is her fourth role at the National Air and Space Museum, where she's been for almost 13 years. Shannon is a former teacher who can't get enough of them and loves using museum resources to make teacher and student lives better. She's a fan of hair color changes, Baltimore baseball, doomscrolling, gardening, and senior pit bulls. Shannon and her husband are halfway through the MLB stadiums, and their two young daughters will be visiting their 5th this fall.