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Greg Macer is back for his third appearance, and we jump straight into the part educators rarely get to see up close: what happens when you step outside schools and try to build learning with the business and manufacturing world. Greg shares why he left the IU system for a year, what surprised him about working with manufacturers, and how a simple truth kept showing up everywhere. Local industry wants to support students and teachers, but most employers need a bridge, someone who can turn tours and “cool equipment” into real, student-centered STEM learning.

From there, we get practical about what that bridge can look like: makerspace planning, workplace connections, and teacher experiences that feel authentic instead of scripted. We talk about STEELS and the deeper mindset behind phenomena-based instruction.  If you have ever felt that initial “I’m good, I already teach this” reaction to new standards or new approaches, you’ll recognize the shift that happens when professional learning is designed for teachers to be learners first.

We also zoom out to the bigger why. Students are growing up in an information-heavy world where they need critical thinking, computational thinking, and the ability to make informed decisions without being pulled by half-truths. That’s where IUs and STEM ecosystems can be powerful connectors across schools, regions, and community partners. Then, because this is still us, we close with an unforgettable lightning round about food plating, cheese, and what “civil” eating really means.

Subscribe for more conversations that connect classroom practice with the real world, share this with a colleague who cares about STEM partnerships, and leave a review so more educators can find us. What would you want your local industry partners to build with your teachers next?

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