PAEMST opened doors to professional opportunities that I never dreamed existed. It continues to be the most significant honor of my 30+ years of teaching.

Caryn Long Charlotte, NC | K-6, Science, 2000

Dr. Caryn Long has served as an educator for over 35 years in the state of NC and Florida in public and private schools. Her teaching experience expands beyond the classroom and includes thirteen years working in NASA Education as their Lead Educator for their Digital Learning Network, an initiative that brought STEM concepts based on NASA's missions and research to well over one million children and adults across the world. The opportunity to work at NASA came directly after her placement in the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship at NASA-HQ. She credits PAEMST for opening the door to the Einstein Fellowship. Caryn's experience also includes leadership of science education for a school district and appointment to the state of North Carolina as a science test authorship. Caryn received PAEMST in 2000 while she taught science to kindergarten through fifth-grade students at Winterfield Elementary School. Her leadership in science education has brought worldwide attention to her current school, Montverde Academy. Through her involvement in the GLOBE program, NASA featured her students in an international webcast during her first semester. She was also honored as Florida Teacher of the Year by the Air Force Association Caryn was also asked to lead STEM integration for Montverde and restructured their STEM Student Academic Program increasing their student membership by over 30% in less than a year. The National Teachers Hall of Fame inducted her as member #153 in 2023. Caryn received her doctorate in educational technology from Oklahoma State University, her M.Ed. from UNC-Charlotte, and her B.A. in elementary education from Queens University. She is certified in kindergarten through sixth-grade elementary education.

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