Lara Arch is the Associate Director of K-12 Curriculum for STEMscopes™ in the Rice University Center for Digital Learning and Scholarship. Her focus is ensuring that, through the use of STEMscopes™ online curriculum, science is fulfilling, inquiry-based, and easy for both teachers and students. She began her career with a passion for working with students with emotional and behavioral disorders and learning disabilities at the high school level. Following that, she taught 5th grade self-contained, all subjects for 9th-12th grades, and most recently, science education professional development for teachers. She holds the Texas Educator Certification in general education for grades K-8 and the special education certification for grades EC-12, as well as a Montessori Secondary I and II certification. Lara has enjoyed working with a variety of learners, content areas, and communities in both Texas and Florida. Lara was born in Zimbabwe, grew up in Houston, and has been a proud educator for ten years. She received her B.S. in Special Education and Elementary Education from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.S. in Program Planning & Change and Environmental Education from Nova Southeastern University in Florida. Lara has presented on a variety of student-centered education topics at SXSWedu, the National Science Teachers Association conference, and the Conference for the Advancement of Science Teaching.