Shayla Mark

I graduated from Florida State University with a B.S. in Information Studies and Network Management. Since 2006, I've worked as an educator, teaching Life, Physical, Earth/Space Sciences, and most recently, Engineering via Project Lead the Way.

Year after year, students across the state of Florida — namely girls — perform below average on standardized science and math assessments. Even more disheartening is the increasing lack of interest and motivation in science and math classes exhibited by female students. Fearing that this nonchalant attitude would cripple students down the road, I founded STEMchicks — a non-profit STEM education organization for girls.

By founding STEMchicks, a nonprofit STEM education program for girls, I hope to provide preteen girls opportunities to explore otherwise unexposed concepts in science, technology, engineering, and math — reigniting their interest in those subjects and providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed in the future.