Isabel Mendiola
María Isabel Mendiola Ramírez is a nationally recognized STEM educator, instructional leader, curriculum designer, and author with 23 years of experience advancing science, engineering, robotics, and computer science education in Mexico and the United States. She has taught across elementary, middle, and high school levels and is widely regarded as a pioneer of STEM and STEAM programming in Monterrey, Mexico, one of the country’s largest industrial and technological hubs.
Bilingual in English and Spanish, Ms. Mendiola has dedicated her career to creating inclusive, inquiry-driven learning environments that prepare students for real-world applications in engineering, technology, environmental science, and applied research. Her early fascination with robotics, electronics, and mechanical systems—nurtured through hands-on exploration and design—shaped her lifelong commitment to teaching students how things work and how to build meaningful solutions.
In 2014, she began integrating Arduino® microcontrollers into classroom instruction, and by 2016 she authored and implemented a junior high engineering and computer science curriculum centered on C++ programming, embedded systems, and project-based learning. She expanded these initiatives into school-wide STEM programs, after-school engineering clubs, teacher professional development, and large-scale science and technology fairs. Her students consistently earned top placements in regional, national, and international STEM competitions, particularly through programs such as JASON Project, Youth Leader Explorers, and CONACYT.
After relocating to the United States, Ms. Mendiola founded Gearbox Labs, a STEM education company focused on engineering, Internet of Things (IoT), and environmental science curriculum. She is the author of The ARDUINO® Classroom, a foundational text now used in 49 U.S. states and more than 40 countries, and has since authored multiple curricula addressing ESP32 systems, environmental sensing, data-driven science, and emerging robotics platforms.
Ms. Mendiola has served as a Science and Robotics Teacher and FIRST Robotics Coach at Carmen Schools of Science & Technology and currently works as a Middle School STEM Teacher and Program Lead for the South Milwaukee School District, where she coordinates engineering, robotics, computer science, and environmental science instruction. A multi-year NASA TechRise National Winner, ITEEA Teacher Excellence Award recipient, and Samsung Solve for Tomorrow National Finalist, she continues to influence STEM education nationally through curriculum innovation, competition leadership, and educator mentoring. She is currently completing her PhD in Education.
Awards & Competitions
- ITEEA Teacher Excellence Award (2025–2026)
- Samsung Solve for Tomorrow – Promising STEM Innovation Recipient (2025-2026)
- NASA TechRise National Winner (2023–2024, 2024–2025)
- Samsung Solve for Tomorrow – National Finalist (2024–2025)
- National STEM Festival – Student Finalist Mentor (2025–2026)
- STEM Forward STEMMY Partnership Award (2022)
- CONACYT National Science Competition – First Place
Arduino-based CO₂ Detector (Student Mentor) - Badger State Science & Engineering Fair – First Place, Engineering
(Student Mentor) - JASON Project Science Competition – First Place (Two Projects)
Tesla Coil Engineering Project
Photosynthesis Simulation Model - Youth Leader Explorers Science Competition
- Second Place (Pollution Control Device)
- Second Place (Kinetic Energy Project)
- Build-a-Bot Competition, Tecnológico de Monterrey – First Place
- Founder of First FTC Team at Carmen Schools of Science & Technology (2023)
- NASA TechRise Grant Winner through Future Engineers
- Producer, Maker Faire Milwaukee (2020–2024)
- Grant awards from
- Northwestern Mutual Foundation,
- PPG Foundation
- Kohler Foundation
- Vela Education Fund
- Generac Foundation
- We Energies Foundation
- Manufacturing Happy Hour