Explora will design and pilot a summer pre-service teacher residency program to strengthen the pipeline for elementary stem educators

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded Explora Science Center & Children's Museum of Albuquerque $1.168 million on September 1, 2026, under the National Leadership Grants program (CFDA 45.312) to design and pilot a summer pre-service teacher residency program that strengthens the pipeline for elementary STEM educators.

Explora will integrate individualized mentoring for teachers across museum, summer camp, and community programming to prepare educators for STEM instruction using inquiry-based science teaching methods. Central New Mexico Community College, the University of New Mexico, Scott Family Amazeum, and Louisiana Children's Museum serve as project partners. The centerpiece deliverable is a toolkit—including curriculum structures, mentor training guides, coaching protocols, and evaluation instruments—designed for museums nationwide to use when partnering with local colleges and pre-service teachers. The project bridges informal and formal learning systems to position museums as leaders in strengthening the STEM educator workforce.

Work is performed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, over a period of performance extending through August 31, 2028. The National Leadership Grants program funds projects that advance practice in the museum and library professions by generating models, tools, research findings, services, practices, and alliances with potential for widespread use, adaptation, scaling, or replication.

Project partners include central new mexico community college, the university of new mexico, scott family amazeum, and louisiana children's museum. The residency will integrate individualized mentoring for the teachers across museum, summer camp, and community programming to prepare teachers for stem instruction using inquiry-based science teaching methods. Explora will produce a toolkit that includes curriculum structures, mentor training guides, coaching protocols, and evaluation instruments that museums can use nationwide to work with local colleges and pre-service teachers. By bridging informal and formal learning systems, the project will position museums as leaders in strengthening the stem educator workforce.