Hardyston teacher selected for regional STEM Pioneers Teacher Corps

A fourth-grade teacher at Hardyston Elementary School has been selected for a regional STEM leadership program recognizing excellence in elementary education.

Holly Romahn was named one of 27 educators chosen for the STEM Pioneers Teacher Corps, an initiative led by the Penn State College of Education Center for Science and the Schools and funded through a $5 million grant from the National Science Foundation.

The program is part of the NSF’s National STEM Teacher Corps Regional Alliance Pilot Program and includes educators from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and West Virginia.

Romahn was selected through a multi-step application process that included submissions from 73 candidates, along with professional references. Officials said participants were chosen based on demonstrated excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics instruction, as well as leadership potential and commitment to professional growth.

Kathy Hill, director of the Center for Science and the Schools, said the program highlights the important role elementary educators play in shaping students’ perceptions of STEM fields.

“Elementary teachers are uniquely positioned to shape how young learners see themselves in science and engineering,” Hill said. “We are recognizing outstanding educators who are already doing exceptional work and providing them with the support and resources to become leaders in elementary STEM education.”

Program organizers said the initiative aims to strengthen STEM instruction and expand opportunities for students across the Mid-Atlantic region.