JEFF DUDUKOVICH
STEM education requires the practical application of content knowledge and experience in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to solve real-world problems.
- Jeff Dudukovich, M.Ed.
OUR FOUNDER
Jeff Dudukovich is a highly accomplished STEM educator with a diverse background in both the military and education. He served 12 years in the United States Navy as a nuclear propulsion mechanical operator, a role that required a high level of technical expertise and attention to detail. During his time in the Navy, Jeff also served as a recruiter for the nuclear power program. In this role, he spent most of his time presenting to high school chemistry and physics classes about nuclear power, radiation, and thermodynamics. Through this experience, Jeff realized the importance of practical, hands-on learning for students, and that many of the students he encountered could not apply their "book knowledge" to solve simple, real-world problems.
After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Jeff worked in pharmaceutical and medical sales but always had a desire to teach, train, and motivate. He eventually decided on a career change and became a science teacher. He believed teaching was a noble endeavor and wanted to reach as many students as possible. He taught high school science for 5 years, was an elementary science instructional coach, and also taught middle school science for 5.5 years. However, he realized that he could reach even more students if he trained other teachers. Since 2015, Jeff has presented over 80 seminars at educator conferences throughout Florida. He has taught STEM professional development courses for over 600 educators, coached teachers from over 140 different schools and districts, conducted in-house STEM field trips, facilitated numerous STEM summer camps and after-school clubs, and organized and trained staff for STEM Family Nights for both public and private schools.
In 2020, Jeff was selected as the first Physics Bus teacher for Seminole County Public Schools, ranked as the top-rated STEM district in Florida for the past 8 years. He launched the program by bringing his previous hands-on activities and strategies for quickly engaging students to life as demonstrations and experiences in the Mechanics, Optics, and Electricity buses. Together with his fellow Physics Bus teacher Aaron Thude and their assistant Richard Gregg, the Physics Bus team visits all 37 elementary schools within the county, engaging approximately 9,500 4th and 5th-grade students annually. For his efforts, Jeff was named as one of 10 semifinalists for the 2022 Shell Science Teaching Award, a national competition.
To accomplish his mission of “Empowering Teachers to Inspire Students,” Jeff used his vast and diverse experience in the military, sales industry, and K-12 science career to assemble the S.T.E.M. PROS. With his team, Jeff plans to meet the growing needs of STEM educators everywhere by working with public schools, districts, and private schools to build strong STEM programs through his expertise at developing and delivering hands-on STEM activities that reinforce content knowledge in math and science, develop problem-solving skills, foster creativity, and follow the engineering design process. Through his work and with his unique experience, Jeff has made and will continue to make a significant impact in the field of STEM education throughout Florida, guiding students and teachers alike to develop the skills and knowledge they need to be successful.
