Tiffany Sessions operates as the STEM Educator for Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties. She is a passionate youth development professional who seeks to empower ALL young people in identifying and cultivating their strengths and gifts. She received both her Bachelor's and Master’s Degrees from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in the field of Sociology, emphasis’ in Urban Education. She has spent her professional career working in various capacities in the youth development field. During three years of her graduate career, she worked at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Service Learning Academy as a Graduate Assistant assisting educators and community partners in the facilitation and coordination of over 15 impactful service-learning projects for youth at various stages of learning. In 2015, she accepted a position as Project Manager for an unprecedented national program called Imagine Science. Imagine Science is the collaborative undertaking of four of Omaha’s largest youth development organizations - Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands, Girls Inc. of Omaha, YMCA of Greater Omaha, and UNL Extension/4-H – to ensure that under-represented youth in grades 4-8 are provided with cutting-edge STEM experiences in efforts to bridge the gap in STEM learning. In 2018, she has joined the 4-H team as an Extension Assistant and has most recently been promoted to STEM Educator where she will be leading the charge to ensure that Douglas-Sarpy youth have access to innovative and cutting-edge STEM-focused program opportunities. She desires to work closely with educators and community leaders to ensure that programs offered are aligned with the standards of Douglas-Sarpy schools and are cultivating skillsets required for tomorrow’s problem solvers. | |
Barbie Buckner is a 20+ year STEM classroom teacher with a Doctorate’s Degree in Mathematics Education from the University of Louisville. Her research interest included the impact of technology on student achievement and teacher behavior. Buckner recently served as a 2013-14 Einstein Fellow at the National Science Foundation Education and Human Resources Directorate where she collaborated with colleagues on learning, learning environments, boarding participating and workforce development. Barbie sees education as her calling and has spent her life sharing her love for learning with everyone around her. Knowing that today’s student will compete in a global economy, Barbie says that “It is imperative that today’s students are prepared with consistent rigorous and relevant standards that produce more STEM majors, particularly women, to keep this great nation at the forefront in technology, innovation, and advancement.” | |
