West TN STEM Hub Welcomes dozens of teachers to Innovations in STEM Conference
June 4, 2026
The West Tennessee STEM Hub welcomed nearly 80 teachers from across Southwest Tennessee to the Herff College of Engineering on Wednesday, June 3, for the 2026 Innovations in STEM Conference.
The conference, organized by Dr. Stephanie Ivey, who leads the West Tennessee STEM Hub, took place in Herff's Edwards Research & Innovations Center (ERIC) and is hosted annually at the University of Memphis. The conference aims to inspire Memphis STEM teachers to find new ways to engage and connect with students.
"With the speed of technological advancements and our increased reliance on these tools, STEM education is more important than ever. It's important that we introduce our students to the world of STEM early, lay a solid foundation for these concepts and let children see the types of careers they can obtain through STEM education," Dr. Ivey said.
Chris Fiano, Mathematics Department Chair for Memphis University School, started the event by leading the "Mathematics Beyond the Standards" portion of the day. Simona Reid, fifth and sixth-grade math teacher at Compass Community Schools, and Jessica Williams, sixth-grade math teacher at University Middle School, followed Fiano.
After lunch and networking opportunities in the ERIC's main atrium, the FedEx Corporation Innovation Commons, Miranda Yarbro, founder and managing partner of Eykonic Communications, spoke to attendees about building corporate partnerships in her presentation "The Human Element of STEM: Building Networks that Last."
The conference wrapped up with a panel, "Science Beyond the Standards," featuring Collierville High School AP Physics teacher Dr. Snigdha Roy, Houston Middle School sixth-grade science teacher Juliet Ammons, Campus Elementary School third-grade science teacher Teresa Ficklen, and Whitehaven Elementary STEM School Optional STEM Coordinator Cheryl Lacy.
The conference is part of the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network's Innovative Educators Workshop Series. The organization will hold the same event, with different speakers, at the University of Memphis' Lambuth Campus in Jackson, Tennessee, on June 11.
The West Tennessee STEM Hub is grateful for the opportunity to help teachers reimagine STEM education in the Mid-South.