As the founder and director of The ASK Academy, a two-year-old Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Innovation High School, Stephenson has found the lessons he learned during his twenty years of teaching in New Mexico to be invaluable in the planning, development and implementation of the Academy. He completed his master's in Education, Curriculum and Instruction, received his BA in Mathematics, and, for six years, was the curriculum director and academy head of the Engineering and Design Academy at Rio Rancho High School.
In 1996, he was the Cibola County School District's teacher of the year. These career experiences have assisted Stephenson in developing exciting, relevant, and engaging learning experiences for students at the innovative STEM Academy.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)
