Award-winning teacher Jim Burnham considers himself to be a “mad scientist” in the classroom.

Jim, a/k/a “The S.T.E.A.M. Clown“, started his journey as an electronics engineer in the high-tech industry.

But in the back of his mind was another aspiration: he always wanted to teach.

Today, Jim is a Mechatronics Engineering instructor at Silicon Valley CTE High School. In 2019, Santa Clara County Office of Education selected him as Teacher of the Year.

“Fire-breathing robots” is a term Jim uses to describe what he teaches with Mechatronics. But robotics, 3D printing and leadership are all going to be a part of the mix, as he prepares his students for the jobs of the future.

And his work isn’t so much STEM, as S.T.E.A.M.–science, technology, engineering, art and math.

Teaching is so much a passion for him that Jim is in the process of sharing his curricula online, with a Creative Commons license, for fellow educators.

As students head back to school, Jim is prepared–with a focus on fun and discovery–to show them all the ways that “nerdy things” are cool and fun.

Jim shared his story, talked about his approach to S.T.E.A.M. and offered a look at some of his favorite resources.

On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:

• How Jim first came to be a “mad scientist”;

• His own educational journey, to becoming an engineer (the roadblocks he navigated may surprise you!);

• How he pivoted to become a teacher;

• His recollections of his first days as an education professional;

• Some of his favorite resources and ways to supply his S.T.E.A.M. classroom/lab;

• What happens on the first day of school in his classroom;

• Some of the ways he engages more arts-oriented students;

• How he’s training his students for future careers;

• A closer look at the ways his class uses 3D printers;

• Where his moniker “The STEAM Clown” came from;

• How to support Jim (and innovative educators in general) in revamping education to train students for the future;

• One of the most important lessons Jim has learned, from teaching in the past year;

• His advice to lifelong learners.