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The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2513: Our Teachers | Houston Public Media

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Thursday, October 2nd 2025 at 1:49 GMT by Houston Public Media
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Engineers of the Classroom: How Houston’s Teachers Are Building Tomorrow’s Innovators

October 2, 2025 – Houston Public Media
The latest installment of the “Engines of Our Ingenuity” podcast series, episode 2513—titled “Our Teachers”—offers a rare behind‑the‑scenes look at the educators who are turning Texas classrooms into real‑world engineering labs. The episode, narrated by host and engineer‑teacher Alex Cortez, is a deep dive into the daily life of teachers who blend science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) with hands‑on projects that inspire curiosity and problem‑solving skills in students from kindergarten through high school.

A Classroom That’s Anything but Ordinary

The episode opens with a bustling montage of a Houston middle‑school science lab: a pair of students are attaching solar panels to a makeshift wind turbine, while a senior high‑school class is calibrating 3‑D printers. Cortez explains that the show’s producers spent a full day with three teachers—Ms. Maya Rojas, Mr. James Kwan, and Mrs. Lila Patel—to capture their daily routines, teaching philosophies, and the creative spark that fuels their lesson plans.

Ms. Rojas, a third‑grade teacher at St. Andrew’s Elementary, shows how she turns a simple question about “how does a bridge hold weight?” into a project that culminates in students designing and testing paper bridges. The segment highlights her use of inexpensive materials—paper, tape, and straws—to create a scaffold for engineering thinking. She explains that the goal isn’t to perfect the bridge but to understand why certain designs work better, fostering analytical reasoning from a young age.

Mr. Kwan, who teaches physics at Harvey High School, demonstrates a module on Newton’s Laws using a miniature rocket kit. The students launch the rockets in a controlled environment, recording flight data and comparing the results to theoretical predictions. Kwan’s emphasis on the scientific method—hypothesis, experiment, data analysis—underscores the importance of iterative learning in STEM education.

Mrs. Patel, a robotics instructor at Bishop Wright Middle School, takes viewers inside her robotics lab, where students build and program robots that navigate obstacle courses. The episode showcases how she integrates coding, mechanical design, and teamwork. “When a robot falls apart, we’re all in a crisis that teaches resilience,” Patel says, illustrating the broader life lessons embedded in engineering projects.

Building a Culture of Inquiry

A recurring theme across all three teachers is the desire to foster a culture of inquiry. Cortez notes that they view every lesson as an opportunity to pose open‑ended questions rather than delivering lecture‑style content. By encouraging students to “ask why” and “how might we” they cultivate critical thinking and creativity—skills that are vital not only for STEM careers but for navigating a rapidly changing world.

The episode also touches on the collaborative nature of teaching. The teachers share anecdotes about cross‑disciplinary projects that merge art and science. One notable example involves a partnership between Ms. Rojas’s class and a local artist to create “bridge sculptures” that are both structurally sound and aesthetically appealing. These projects, the teachers argue, break down silos between subjects and reflect the interdisciplinary nature of real‑world engineering challenges.

Resources and Partnerships

Throughout the podcast, listeners are directed to a number of external resources that the teachers recommend for both students and parents:

• Texas Education Agency’s STEM Initiative – a comprehensive framework for integrating STEM across grades 5‑12.
• National Science Foundation’s STEM Hub – a portal with free lesson plans, professional development modules, and a community of practice for educators.
• NASA’s Space Place – an interactive website that offers experiments, challenges, and teacher guides.

The teachers also highlight local partnerships. For instance, Mr. Kwan’s physics class recently received a donation of a Caterpillar 950 D excavator from a Houston industrial firm, enabling students to study mechanical systems in a large‑scale, real‑world context. Similarly, Mrs. Patel’s robotics lab has a partnership with RobotShop, which supplies components and offers discounts to schools for STEM education.

Challenges on the Horizon

While the episode paints an optimistic picture, it also acknowledges the challenges teachers face in delivering high‑quality STEM education. Budget constraints are a primary concern. Ms. Rojas shares that she often needs to secure extra funding through grants or community fundraisers to buy the necessary lab equipment. The shortage of trained STEM teachers in Texas is another hurdle; Cortez interviews a district administrator who cites the need for better incentives and professional development opportunities to attract and retain talent.

Equity is also a central issue. Mrs. Patel explains that her robotics team initially lacked diversity in its composition. After a community outreach program, the class now includes a more balanced mix of genders and ethnicities, which she believes has improved collaboration and creativity.

The Ripple Effect

The segment ends on a hopeful note, highlighting the ripple effect teachers create. Cortez interviews a former student of Ms. Rojas who, inspired by early bridge projects, pursued a career in civil engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. The student now mentors middle‑school students in his community, continuing the cycle of inspiration.

The “Engineers of Our Ingenuity” podcast episode, with its blend of classroom footage, heartfelt interviews, and actionable resources, underscores that the true engines of ingenuity are the teachers who dare to turn everyday materials into portals for discovery. Their work not only shapes future engineers but also builds a foundation of curiosity, resilience, and collaboration that will serve all students in the twenty‑first century.

Want to dive deeper?
- Watch the full episode on Houston Public Media’s YouTube channel.
- Visit the Texas STEM Initiative page for curriculum guides.
- Explore the NASA Space Place for interactive experiments.

Engineers of Our Ingenuity continues to shine a light on the educators who transform classrooms into launchpads for the next generation of innovators.