How One Texas Teacher Uses Science Buddies Throughout the Year

This high school teacher in Texas uses Science Buddies throughout the year with students and has added the annual Engineering Challenge to their calendar.

Science Buddies Educator Ambassador Program

Stephanie Paynter, a high school science teacher at Jesus and Mary Academy in El Paso, Texas, was a Science Buddies Educator Ambassador in the 2025-2026 school year, her second year in the program. Ambassadors are educators selected for their shared commitment to STEM education and their interest in sharing Science Buddies resources with other educators.

Teaching at a small private school, Stephanie views Science Buddies as an important resource for schools that may not have a formal STEM program and may have limited funding for hands-on science and engineering.

We followed up with Stephanie about her experience as an Educator Ambassador, her use of Science Buddies in the classroom, and the Engineering Challenge.

As a second-year Educator Ambassador, what did you most often share with other educators and school administrators about Science Buddies?

"I highlighted how Science Buddies provides accessible, structured science experiments and STEM activities that are especially valuable for smaller schools that may not have a formal science program or dedicated science curriculum. I also emphasized that the yearly Engineering Challenge allows students to participate in engaging, hands-on STEM learning (and friendly academic competition) regardless of school size or available resources. Additionally, I shared classroom implementation examples, including my experience successfully using Science Buddies experiments for our biennial science fair and science summer camp. I also shared my favorite resource, the Topic Selection Wizard."

What makes the Topic Selection Wizard a favorite for your classroom?

"The Topic Selection Wizard has been absolutely invaluable for helping students and teachers identify science fair and STEM projects that align with individual student interests and abilities. It has proven especially beneficial for our smaller schools, where teachers often need flexible resources to support a wide range of ages, interests, and experience levels. The Topic Selection Wizard helps students find projects that genuinely interest them while still being age-appropriate, achievable, and educational."

Students with project display boards from the school science fair.

The 2026 Ball Run Challenge was your second year participating in the annual Engineering Challenge. What makes the Engineering Challenge a good fit for you and your students?

"The challenges align well with concepts we cover in physical science, including friction and gravity. It allows our students to see real-world application of these important concepts in a meaningful and hands-on way."

How did the Ball Run Challenge go?

"Last year, I grouped students by school houses, which included mixed grade levels. This year, I grouped them by class. This resulted in noticeably stronger collaboration, camaraderie, and class unity, as students were able to work together more consistently during class time rather than needing to coordinate schedules and find time outside of class. Overall, student outcomes reflected increased engagement, confidence, perseverance, scientific thinking, and enthusiasm for hands-on learning."

One of your teams was drawn in the random drawings and won a cash prize for the school. Were students excited?

"We were thrilled that one of our Engineering Challenge teams was selected in the random drawings. The recognition generated tremendous excitement and pride among our students and further increased enthusiasm for STEM activities and participation in future challenges."

Having participated in the challenge two years in a row, do you plan to take part next year?

"Yes!"

Students with their 2026 Ball Run Challenge submissions.

How has Science Buddies made a difference in your classroom and school community this year?

"One benefit, especially evident to our students this year during both their science fair work and the Engineering Challenge, has been the authentic learning experience that comes from experimentation itself: not every project or experiment went exactly as planned, and students have appreciated learning to troubleshoot, adapt, and think critically through the scientific process. Rather than viewing their setbacks as failures, students began to see them as opportunities for problem-solving and growth.

Another particularly encouraging outcome this year came during our science fair. We invited five college students from The University of Texas at El Paso to serve as judges. They were extremely impressed overall with both the quality of the experiments and the enthusiasm, preparation, and scientific thinking demonstrated by our students. Their positive feedback further reinforced the meaningful impact that Science Buddies resources have had on student engagement and STEM learning."

Is there anything else you would like to share with us about being a Science Buddies Educator Ambassador?

"One of the things I am most grateful for as a Science Buddies Educator Ambassador is how accessible and practical the platform has been for both teachers and students. As a teacher, I honestly would not know where to begin helping many of our students identify meaningful science fair projects without Science Buddies.

Science Buddies has helped level the playing field for our students. Even those with limited resources or minimal outside support are able to participate meaningfully in science fairs and STEM activities because of the clear instructions, accessible materials lists, troubleshooting guidance, and well-structured project ideas. It has allowed us to foster curiosity, critical thinking, and confidence in students who often feel overwhelmed by the process.

Most importantly, Science Buddies has helped transform science from something intimidating into something approachable, engaging, and genuinely exciting for our students. For a small school like ours, that impact has been tremendous."