50 Strategies for Teaching STEAM Skills

Kara Ball, Ph.D. is a National Board-Certified educator, award-winning author, professor of education, and Academic Officer specializing in inquiry-based and inclusive STEAM. She supports educators nationwide across disciplines in designing accessible, student-centered learning experiences that ensure all students see themselves as capable thinkers, makers, and problem-solvers.

Kara is the author of 50 Strategies for Teaching STEAM Skills and a recognized leader in advancing inclusive, inquiry-driven instruction. A former K–5 teacher and District STEM Coordinator, she was named the 2018 State Teacher of the Year and a finalist for National Teacher of the Year. She is a recipient of the Bezos Courage and Civility Award and the Davos Educator Impact Award and received the Towson University College of Education Most Distinguished Alumni Award.

Her work has been featured nationally, including a cover feature in STEM Women Magazine, as well as in Forbes, SmartBrief, and other national publications. She has spoken on stages such as SXSW, NSTA, ESEA, EdWeb, and at the White House. Drawing from her experience as a neurodivergent educator, she advocates for education systems that expand access and opportunity. Her doctoral research explored gender inequity in STEM education, with a focus on how early childhood experiences and career curiosity shape STEM persistence.