Emily Reichbach

Give us 3-5 adjectives that describe you…
Curious, compassionate, industrious, gullible

Briefly describe your job… what do you really do at EL?
I run our Virtual Learning Communities, which are groups for educators that use our products. I support teachers within our VLCs by creating resources (like our monthly themed Green Light trackers!), sharing best practices, fostering collaboration, troubleshooting, and more! I also work with our development team on Frax resources like the Teacher Guide, Captain’s checkpoints, and more.

What do you like about working at EL?
I love that each day I get to do my two favorite things, learn and create. I am passionate about directly engaging with teachers, listening to their feedback, and providing solutions to make their jobs easier. Having spent considerable time crafting solutions when I was a teacher, I am committed to lightening teachers' loads by providing resources and assistance. I also am always learning! Whether is working through a new STEM case or digging into the pedagogy of fractions, I am constantly engaged and curious.

What's the most seriously fun thing you've ever done?
Every summer, my husband and I rent a 40-foot water slide with friends. It is seriously fun, as an opportunity to be a kid is.

Tell us about one of your STEM mentors. Who inspired you, and how?
Two previous co-workers of mine really ignited my passion for math and science. A 5th grade colleague of mine had a contagious passion for science and she encouraged me to take risks in my own teaching. Second was my math coach who dug deep into the conceptual understanding of math. She taught me to view math education as a progression in development, always looking at the bigger picture.

What big STEM accomplishment do you think we’ll see happen in the next 100 years, and why are you excited about it?
I am a proud nerd and admit I sometimes listen to podcasts about science breakthroughs. One accomplishment I hope for that I am excited about is climate intervention. Scientists are experimenting with enhancing the reflectivity of clouds in order to reduce solar radiation. How cool? My first thought when I listened to the podcast was “We have a Gizmo for that!”.

Why is STEM education important, in your personal opinion?
Fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities within our future generations will not only set them up for success but also play an important role in driving future innovation. STEM education encourages learners to tackle real-world challenges, which prepares them to address global challenges.

How long would you survive a zombie apocalypse? Why?
Nope, just nope, Dead on arrival.

Time travel… past or future?
Future

Artificial intelligence… friend or foe?
Both. AI is already helping humans with repetitive tasks, for example in the medical field reading radiology scans. On the other hand, we have a myriad of apps that generate all kinds of deep fakes. Just like with any new technology, we need regulations and boundaries that encourages using technology for the good of humanity.

Chemistry or Biology
Biology!

Algebra or Geometry
Tie, love them both.

Learn a language or learn how to code
Learn a language

Deep space or deep sea
I don’t want to go to either.

Bill Nye or Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Bill Nye

Einstein or Newton
I have to choose Einstein because, in addition to his accomplishments, he was also an advocate for civil rights. Fun fact though, my rescue dog’s name given in the shelter was Isaac Newton (we renamed him Gary).

Star Wars or Star Trek
Star Wars

Keyboard or Paper + Pencil
Keyboard

Playlists or podcasts
Playlists

In the classroom… Front row or back row
Back row