Carrie Launius spent over 30 years in science education starting as an elementary teacher and retiring as an assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction.  Her passion has always been to engage students in authentic experiences creating life-long science learners. Launius has been the president of STOM- Science Teachers of Missouri and now serves as an adviser.  She currently is NSTA’s district XI director.  She also created and serves as chair of the NSTA – CBC Best STEM book committee.