# Nico Janik > STEM Coordinator Location: Palo Alto, California, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/nicojanik As a STEM Coordinator and professional learning developer, I have combined expertise in education and engineering with a passion for science, making and design. Some of the themes that have been present across my work are innovation, inquiry and exploration, and believing in the ability of communities to identify and solve important and authentic problems. ## Work Experience ### Science and Engineering @ WestEd Jan 2022 – Present | Palo Alto, California, United States Current projects include: Elevating Engineering with Multilingual Learners Development Lead Project to develop, study and refine professional learning to support grade 3–5 teachers in developing their knowledge and skills to effectively teach engineering to all students. GLOBE - Global Learning through Observations to Benefit the Environment WestED-UCBerkeley Partnership Coordinator and Trainer - Support teachers in implementing NASA GLOBE in their classrooms - Build partnerships with local schools, GLOBE and environmental non-profits - In collaboration with NASA, NOAA and NSF, support environmental and data science literacy ### Science, Makerspaces and Engineering Coordinator, TK - 8 @ Ravenswood City School District Jan 2014 – Jan 2022 | East Palo Alto, CA TK - 8 at Ravenswood City School District • Developed and implemented Ravenswood’s vision for STEM, including professional development for all faculty and administrators and curriculum evaluation and adoption • Developed a district-wide Makerspace program, including staffing and equipping makerspaces at every school site, and training and Professional Development for staff ### Science Educator @ City of Palo Alto, Junior Museum and Zoo Jan 2013 – Jan 2014 | Palo Alto, CA • Supervised Junior Museum and Zoo hourly instructors and camp staff • Developed and led hands-on science lessons in K-5 grade classrooms in Ravenswood School District and Palo Alto Unified School District • Headed up work at the JMZ to re-organize and enhance their curriculum to move from alignment with California Academic Content Standards to Next Generation Science Standards ### Herbert Hoover Elementary School, Intermediate Science (3rd-5th) @ Palo Alto Unified School District Jan 2011 – Jan 2013 | Palo Alto, CA • Developed and taught a multi-week Engineering Design Unit where students learned the design process and applied it to solve engineering problems connected to science and ELA standards • Used background in Product Design to amplify engineering and problem solving in FOSS lessons ### Co-Founder and Director of Product Development @ Artabunga! Inc Jan 1999 – Jan 2001 | Mountain View, CA • Co-founder of a kid’s creativity website • Contributed to writing business plan, recruiting management team, and fund raising • Performed user testing with children and parents • Led team of outside contractors to build site ### Project Manager @ OddzOn, a subsidiary of Hasbro Toys Jan 1996 – Jan 1999 | Campbell, CA • Project manager and lead engineer for three product lines (Koosh Creative, Real Creations and Slivers.) Work ranged from product conception to high volume injection molded part design, focus group validation, and management of internal and external resources requiring daily communication with Hasbro Far East, the firm’s manufacturing arm. Created and oversaw the design and production schedules as well as the project budgets, cost models, and profitability analysis. • Products for the Koosh Creative line won ten major awards including two Family Fun Toy of the Year awards, and two National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval. • Over three years brought eighteen products to market. ### Founder of Independent Toy Development Enterprise @ Nicoscopic Labs Jan 1996 – Jan 1997 | Palo Alto, CA • Completed development and licensed the AquaView, a toy for viewing underwater animals and structures from the surface of the water in tidal pools. • Received a US patent. • The AquaView was originally licensed to The Damert Company. The product is still being manufactured and sold. ### Contractor and Product Designer @ IDEO Jan 1992 – Jan 1996 | Palo Alto, CA and Evanston, IL • Worked on a wide range of projects for clients including Sunbeam, Steelcase, Dell Computer, and NEC. Contributed to the design of computer, consumer products and office furniture. • Activities included the design of parts in solid-modeling CAD, thermal and flow rate testing, optimization, Design for Manufacturability, rapid prototyping for engineering analysis, as well as parts sourcing and vendor selection. • Collaborated to implement a successful IDEO seminar on creative engineering for engineers at NEC in Japan. Topics included, prototyping, brainstorming, and user-centered design. ## Education ### M.S. Engineering in Product Design Stanford University ### Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Mechanical Engineering UC Santa Barbara ### Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Environmental Studies UC Santa Barbara ### Teaching Credential in Multiple Subject California State University, Monterey Bay (CalState TEACH program) ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nico-janik --- Source: https://flows.cv/nicojanik JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/nicojanik/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-13