STEM School & Academy
penny.eucker@stemhigh.org
My education began with STEM. I earned a Bachelors of Science in Geology from the University of Georgia. It includes a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, and Doctorate in Education, Leadership and Innovation, both from the University of Colorado, School of Education. My dissertation was on the development of educational standards and the political landscape that led to No Child Left Behind. Great bedtime reading if you have insomnia.
Leading up to accepting this position, I previously designed a STEM school in Adams 12. It grew from 200 to 4,000 students in three years on several campuses. The transformative power of a great school changes lives. The lucky ones selected by lottery have an opportunity I wish all students could share. Before being the founding principal, I worked in the central office supporting 52 schools. Prior to district work, I served at CDE (Colorado Dept. of Education), responsible for the science CSAP- selecting test items, organizing the review process and overseeing the scoring process. Many years ago, I taught chemistry.
On the personal side, my family includes my husband, sons, and Bouviers. We live in a 110-year old haunted house. My husband is a petroleum geologist. My son, William, has an undergrad in physics and a doctorate from Cambridge, UK. He now resides in New Haven when he is not at sea as a submarine nuclear engineer. My son, Thomas, graduated from USMA, West Point, in 2013. He was on the Black Knight parachute team and engages in far too many extreme sports.
For fun I read. My book club (we call ourselves the Fan Club) has been together for 16 years. Yoga and Pilates take up a chunk of my weekend and I walk Coco and Winston, the previously mentioned Bouvs. Sometimes I ski or hike, but as a redhead, the Colorado sun is not my friend. I also volunteer with Opera Colorado, sometimes traveling with my opera buddies to great performances in other cities.
Like many of our families, I was never satisfied with education. School should be rigorous, world class and yet infused with the energy of the fast-moving technology found in research labs, entrepreneurial businesses and top-tier universities. With our industry partners, technical advice from the Morgridge Family Foundation and the inspiration of our staff and students, we are that elusive school where it all comes together.
Leading STEM School and Academy is my life’s capstone project. Together, we can make this the school others emulate. Our staff and students are the reason I remain motivated and committed. Together, we have created a very special place to work and learn. It is my honor to serve as your Executive Director for an organization that pushes the boundary of what is possible.
PJ Eucker PhD