Episode #16: From Small Wins to Big Impact: Creating a STEM Leadership Vision

By Jennifer Hunter | The Learning Project Podcast

Have you ever felt like STEM education is treated as an “extra” on your campus—something that happens on Fridays or during a special event, but not something that defines your school culture? If so, you're not alone.

The truth is, we don’t need fancy labs or expensive tech to make STEM meaningful. What we do need is clarity, consistency, and a shared vision that brings STEM to life in real and relevant ways for students.

In this post, we’re breaking down what it really takes to create a STEM leadership vision that sticks—one that inspires action, builds momentum, and transforms your school from the inside out.

Why STEM Leadership Starts with Vision

Creating a clear, shared vision isn’t just a feel-good strategy. According to studies from EdWeek and the Carnegie Foundation, when leaders articulate a meaningful vision, teacher buy-in increases, initiative fatigue decreases, and the success of implementation goes up by as much as 30%.

That’s not small. That’s impact.

Without a vision, STEM risks becoming an isolated event—a robotics club here, a science fair there. With a vision? STEM becomes your school’s heartbeat. It becomes embedded into how you teach, learn, and lead.

The 3 Elements of a Strong STEM Vision

Here’s the truth: big change starts with small, intentional steps. When I work with schools, I always anchor the visioning process around three core components:

1. Start with Your Why

Your “why” is the foundation of everything. Ask yourself:

• Why does STEM matter to our students?
• Why now?
• Why does it matter for our community?

Whether it’s about preparing kids for a future we can’t predict, closing equity gaps, or sparking curiosity and creativity—own that why. It will guide your decisions and fuel your leadership.

2. Make It Tangible

Vision statements should feel real—not like buzzwords.
Ask yourself:

• What does STEM look, sound, and feel like in our classrooms?
• What are teachers doing when it’s working well?
• What are students doing?

Picture students collaborating on a hands-on challenge with cardboard and tape. Imagine teachers asking, “What happens if we try it another way?” That’s the heartbeat of STEM.

3. Keep It Achievable

Yes, dream big. But ground your goals in action.
Here’s how you can build momentum:

• Start with a daily “wonder question” on the board.
• Launch a low-cost design challenge with recycled materials.
• Highlight one teacher each week who tries something new.

And one of my favorite strategies? Plan a STEM Showcase. Put a date on the calendar. Invite families and the community. Let students lead. When your staff knows they’re building toward something meaningful, the energy shifts.

Common Leadership Pitfalls—and How to Avoid Them

Even the best intentions can fall flat without the right approach. Here are four missteps I see often (and how to shift them):

❌ Mistake #1: Making the Vision Too Big

💡 Fix: Big vision is great—but pair it with small, consistent steps forward.

❌ Mistake #2: Leaving Teachers Out of the Process

💡 Fix: Co-create the vision. Use self-assessments, host visioning meetings, and ask, “What does STEM look like for us?”

❌ Mistake #3: Thinking It’s All About Tech

💡 Fix: Tech is a tool, not the heart of STEM. STEM starts with questions, creativity, and curiosity.

❌ Mistake #4: Siloing STEM from Other Subjects

💡 Fix: Integrate it. The best STEM work touches every subject—ELA, math, art, even social studies. Let STEM become a lens for learning.

How to Write a Vision That Sticks

Here’s a sentence starter you can use today:
“At [Your School], STEM is…”

Now fill in the blank with words that reflect your values:

• Collaborative
• Inquiry-driven
• Real-world focused
• Accessible to all
• Student-centered

And remember—keep it short. Long, jargon-heavy vision statements don’t inspire action. Simple ones do. One of my favorite school visions? Just five words: “Going Above and Beyond.” Everyone knew what it meant. It lived in their culture.

Quick Wins to Launch Your Vision This Week

Here are a few ideas to make your vision visible—today:

• Host a 10-minute STEM chat during your next staff meeting. Ask, “What does STEM success look like here?”
• Start a “STEM in Action” wall to showcase student thinking, photos, and prototypes.
• Create a weekly STEM Shout-Out to recognize teachers trying new things.

Ready to Go Deeper?

If you want support, I’ve created a free tool to help you get started.

🎁 Grab the free STEM Leadership Playbook Starter Guide for templates, reflection questions, and team tools here.

Or explore the STEM Lens Planning Guide to help your staff align their current curriculum with inquiry-driven STEM learning—no fancy tools required.

Your STEM Leadership Challenge

Here’s your challenge this week:

Write one sentence that captures your STEM vision.

And if you need a kickstarter or template to brainstorm, I got you covered. Check out the STEM Vision Template here.

Just one. It doesn’t have to be polished. It just needs to start.

Then—share it with your team. Invite their feedback. Let them help shape it. Because when your team helps build the vision, they’ll help walk it too.

Let’s Build Together

Need a thought partner to refine your vision? I’d love to support you.

📩 DM me on Instagram @TheLearningProjectJenn or
📧 Email me at [email protected] and share your draft.

STEM leadership doesn’t start with flash—it starts with focus. It starts with you.

You’ve got this. And your vision? It matters more than you know. 💫