Peter Haydock Biography

For more than 25 years, Peter Haydock has been a leader at the intersection of science, technology, engineering, and education, helping schools, educators, nonprofits, museums, government agencies, and industry partners prepare learners for a rapidly evolving technological world. Throughout his career, he has built innovative educational programs, forged cross-sector partnerships, and developed award-winning STEM initiatives that have expanded opportunities for students and educators across the United States.

Peter currently serves as Managing Director of Gearbox Labs, a Wisconsin-based nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to high-quality STEM and artificial intelligence education. As the organization’s lead educator, he develops and teaches programs in artificial intelligence, physical computing with Arduino® and microcontrollers, robotics, engineering design, coding, and 3D printing for students, educators, families, and community organizations.

Peter believes students learn STEM best by solving authentic problems. His mentorship has helped young innovators earn recognition through some of the nation’s most competitive STEM programs, including Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, NASA TechRise, Cubes in Space, Toshiba ExploraVision, the Badger State Science and Engineering Fair, the FIRST Tech Challenge, Growing Beyond Earth, and the National STEM Festival, where one of his students was recognized as a National STEM Festival STEM Champion.

Under Peter’s leadership, Gearbox Labs has published eight comprehensive STEM curricula and hundreds of instructional resources used by schools throughout Wisconsin and beyond. The organization has become recognized for delivering rigorous, hands-on learning experiences that connect emerging technologies with authentic engineering challenges. In recognition of his leadership in AI education, Peter was selected as a Mark Cuban AI Education Fellow for the 2026–2027 cohort. He also helped lead Gearbox Labs to receive the 2020 STEM Forward STEMMY Award for Education Partnerships.

Peter’s career has consistently focused on identifying emerging trends in education and transforming them into meaningful learning opportunities. Long before today’s focus on artificial intelligence, he was helping educators integrate online learning, digital curriculum, engineering design, and technology-rich instruction into classrooms.

Prior to Gearbox Labs, Peter held leadership positions with several nationally recognized education organizations, including the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Science Education Center, National Geographic Society’s JASON Project, CenterPoint Education Solutions, PARCC Inc., and the Milwaukee Public Museum.

At the Smithsonian Institution, Peter served in multiple leadership roles, including Deputy Director and Acting Director of the Smithsonian Science Education Center. He led initiatives to modernize science education through technology-rich curriculum, strengthened collaboration among Smithsonian museums and research centers, and guided curriculum redevelopment aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Earlier, he led development of an open-source educational engagement platform for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Education and Access, expanding access to Smithsonian educational resources nationwide.

While serving as a senior leader for National Geographic Society’s JASON Project, Peter directed a complete redesign of the organization’s educational platform, creating award-winning inquiry-based curriculum delivered through print, video, interactive web experiences, online games, and field investigations. The redesigned program earned seven Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) CODiE Awards. He also established partnerships connecting classrooms with scientists and engineers from NASA, NOAA, the U.S. Department of Energy, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Carnegie Institution, and National Geographic, bringing authentic STEM careers directly into students’ learning experiences.

At CenterPoint Education Solutions, Peter led development of online professional learning for educators and helped create one of the nation’s earliest NGSS-aligned science assessment systems. At PARCC Inc., he managed development of the Partnership Resource Center, providing educators nationwide with tools and professional resources to support implementation of Common Core and next-generation science assessments.

Peter also served as Director of Education at the Milwaukee Public Museum, where he oversaw educational services, school partnerships, teacher professional development, camps, and public programming. During his tenure, he transformed museum education into standards-based learning experiences, launched the Passport to Distance Learning initiative, and co-authored publications on museum-based distance learning.

Peter began his career as a high school science teacher before becoming an Educational Technology Specialist for the School District of Sheboygan Falls, where he developed the district’s long-range technology plan and K–12 educational technology curriculum. He later served as an adjunct lecturer and Action Research Adviser at Cardinal Stritch University.

Peter holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology, a Wisconsin teaching certification in Life Sciences, a Master of Library and Information Science, and a post-baccalaureate award in Economics, all from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

His commitment to STEM education extends beyond his professional roles. He serves on the State Science Festival Advisory Board, volunteers as a project reviewer for the Wisconsin Engineering Design Competition, and has mentored student researchers internationally. For more than a decade, he has explored the educational potential of Arduino® and embedded systems, helping teachers integrate engineering, programming, physical computing, and artificial intelligence into meaningful classroom experiences.

Whether leading national education organizations, developing innovative curriculum, mentoring student researchers, or building partnerships among educators, scientists, engineers, museums, nonprofits, and industry, Peter’s mission has remained constant: creating authentic STEM learning experiences that inspire curiosity, cultivate innovation, and empower learners to solve the challenges of tomorrow.

For more than 25 years, Peter Haydock has been a leader at the intersection of science, technology, engineering, and education, helping schools, educators, nonprofits, museums, government agencies, and industry partners prepare learners for a rapidly evolving technological world. Throughout his career, he has built innovative educational programs, forged cross-sector partnerships, and developed award-winning STEM initiatives that have expanded opportunities for students and educators across the United States.

Peter currently serves as Managing Director of Gearbox Labs, a Wisconsin-based nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to high-quality STEM and artificial intelligence education. As the organization’s lead educator, he develops and teaches programs in artificial intelligence, physical computing with Arduino® and microcontrollers, robotics, engineering design, coding, and 3D printing for students, educators, families, and community organizations.

Peter believes students learn STEM best by solving authentic problems. His mentorship has helped young innovators earn recognition through some of the nation’s most competitive STEM programs, including Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, NASA TechRise, Cubes in Space, Toshiba ExploraVision, the Badger State Science and Engineering Fair, the FIRST Tech Challenge, Growing Beyond Earth, and the National STEM Festival, where one of his students was recognized as a National STEM Festival STEM Champion.

Under Peter’s leadership, Gearbox Labs has published eight comprehensive STEM curricula and hundreds of instructional resources used by schools throughout Wisconsin and beyond. The organization has become recognized for delivering rigorous, hands-on learning experiences that connect emerging technologies with authentic engineering challenges. In recognition of his leadership in AI education, Peter was selected as a Mark Cuban AI Education Fellow for the 2026–2027 cohort. He also helped lead Gearbox Labs to receive the 2020 STEM Forward STEMMY Award for Education Partnerships.

Peter’s career has consistently focused on identifying emerging trends in education and transforming them into meaningful learning opportunities. Long before today’s focus on artificial intelligence, he was helping educators integrate online learning, digital curriculum, engineering design, and technology-rich instruction into classrooms.

Prior to Gearbox Labs, Peter held leadership positions with several nationally recognized education organizations, including the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Science Education Center, National Geographic Society’s JASON Project, CenterPoint Education Solutions, PARCC Inc., and the Milwaukee Public Museum.

At the Smithsonian Institution, Peter served in multiple leadership roles, including Deputy Director and Acting Director of the Smithsonian Science Education Center. He led initiatives to modernize science education through technology-rich curriculum, strengthened collaboration among Smithsonian museums and research centers, and guided curriculum redevelopment aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Earlier, he led development of an open-source educational engagement platform for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Education and Access, expanding access to Smithsonian educational resources nationwide.

While serving as a senior leader for National Geographic Society’s JASON Project, Peter directed a complete redesign of the organization’s educational platform, creating award-winning inquiry-based curriculum delivered through print, video, interactive web experiences, online games, and field investigations. The redesigned program earned seven Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) CODiE Awards. He also established partnerships connecting classrooms with scientists and engineers from NASA, NOAA, the U.S. Department of Energy, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Carnegie Institution, and National Geographic, bringing authentic STEM careers directly into students’ learning experiences.

At CenterPoint Education Solutions, Peter led development of online professional learning for educators and helped create one of the nation’s earliest NGSS-aligned science assessment systems. At PARCC Inc., he managed development of the Partnership Resource Center, providing educators nationwide with tools and professional resources to support implementation of Common Core and next-generation science assessments.

Peter also served as Director of Education at the Milwaukee Public Museum, where he oversaw educational services, school partnerships, teacher professional development, camps, and public programming. During his tenure, he transformed museum education into standards-based learning experiences, launched the Passport to Distance Learning initiative, and co-authored publications on museum-based distance learning.

Peter began his career as a high school science teacher before becoming an Educational Technology Specialist for the School District of Sheboygan Falls, where he developed the district’s long-range technology plan and K–12 educational technology curriculum. He later served as an adjunct lecturer and Action Research Adviser at Cardinal Stritch University.

Peter holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology, a Wisconsin teaching certification in Life Sciences, a Master of Library and Information Science, and a post-baccalaureate award in Economics, all from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

His commitment to STEM education extends beyond his professional roles. He serves on the State Science Festival Advisory Board, volunteers as a project reviewer for the Wisconsin Engineering Design Competition, and has mentored student researchers internationally. For more than a decade, he has explored the educational potential of Arduino® and embedded systems, helping teachers integrate engineering, programming, physical computing, and artificial intelligence into meaningful classroom experiences.

Whether leading national education organizations, developing innovative curriculum, mentoring student researchers, or building partnerships among educators, scientists, engineers, museums, nonprofits, and industry, Peter’s mission has remained constant: creating authentic STEM learning experiences that inspire curiosity, cultivate innovation, and empower learners to solve the challenges of tomorrow.