Preeti Pachauri
Tell us about your work/research. What kinds of things do you do?
As a gifted coordinator, my mission is to cultivate skills in students, nurturing their creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. I am deeply committed to fostering a lifelong love of learning by helping students strengthen their understanding of and respect for science and STEM education, with the goal of developing the next generation of scientists, technologists, educators, and leaders.
I instill scientific thinking by guiding students through each step of the scientific method: asking a question, forming a hypothesis, identifying variables, planning a procedure, conducting experiments, analyzing data, and drawing conclusions. Beyond science, I weave in mathematics, technology, and engineering to deliver a truly integrated STEM experience. I employ a gradual release of responsibility model like I do, we do, you do to support student understanding at every level.
As a gifted coordinator, I design enriched, challenging, and engaging lessons tailored to advanced learners. As a special educator, I provide individualized accommodations to students who need additional support, always working to connect classroom learning with real-world experiences. I bring hands-on STEM projects, oceanic themes, 3D printing, robotics, and LEGO engineering challenges into the classroom to make abstract concepts tangible and inspiring.
I serve a Title I school where students face limited opportunities and significant literacy challenges due to low socioeconomic circumstances and restricted funding. Despite these barriers, I remain unwavering in my commitment to their success—continuously seeking meaningful ways to make a lasting difference in their lives. I adapt curriculum to meet each student's individualized needs, implement cooperative learning strategies, and integrate Problem-Based Learning and the Engineering Design Process to prepare all students for future careers.
What sparked your initial interest in your career?
Education runs in my family. My parents were science teachers who inspired me to pursue biology with the vision of becoming a doctor—and I did become a dentist by profession. Yet the deep-rooted values of teaching and mentorship that my parents instilled in me never faded. I chose to become an educator to raise the bar of STEM learning and to witness firsthand the remarkable engagement it brings to students.
What truly solidified my path was seeing students who had been labeled as low achievers thrive in group STEM projects. I realized that STEM uniquely offers students across all ability levels an opportunity to reveal their inner genius in ways traditional instruction never could. The growth I observed in both my gifted and special education students motivated me profoundly, and I believe wholeheartedly that I have found my calling.
Who influenced you or encouraged you the most?
My greatest influences are my parents, both lifelong educators, who planted the seed of teaching in me from an early age. Their example inspired me to become an educator, and once I began, I never looked back. I continued learning, growing, and evolving in my practice.
I am also deeply grateful for my husband, who is himself an accomplished educator and my greatest mentor. He showed me the true meaning of being a lifelong learner and of giving back to one's community through effective teaching. He has continuously encouraged me to pursue every opportunity that excites and challenges me.
Though my parents are no longer with us, their legacy lives on in every lesson I teach and every student I reach. I thank them, and my husband, for always inspiring me to raise the bar.
What element of your work/study do you think is the most fascinating?
The most fascinating aspect of teaching for me is the power of productive struggle. I find it deeply rewarding to challenge my students and then observe as they wrestle with a concept, inch closer to understanding, and finally experience that moment of breakthrough. By the time I begin direct instruction, my students have often already done half the learning themselves through curiosity, persistence, and inquiry.
I feel most fulfilled when students take full ownership of their learning and are able to articulate in their own words, how and why they arrived at their results. That authentic understanding, grounded in hands-on experience and real-world connection, is the outcome I work toward every day.
How did you get involved with the Ocean Exploration Trust?
My journey to the Nautilus began when I was searching for challenging, ocean and marine-themed assignments for both my son and my gifted students. During that search, I discovered the resources of the Nautilus and the Ocean Exploration Trust, and I was immediately captivated. I reached out to the program team and began learning everything I could about it.
From the moment I encountered the Science Communication Fellowship, it resonated deeply with my belief that complex scientific ideas should be made accessible and exciting for learners of every age. I admired the way the Nautilus team blends cutting-edge exploration with meaningful public engagement. As I learned more attending informational sessions and reflecting on my own philosophy of storytelling, visual communication, and experiential learning, I realized how closely this program's mission aligned with my own.
Being selected is both humbling and energizing. I look forward to joining a remarkable community of scientists, engineers, educators, and communicators united by curiosity and a shared commitment to discovery. To me, involvement with the Nautilus is not merely a professional milestone, it is a meaningful extension of my belief that exploration belongs to everyone, especially the young learners who are just beginning to imagine their place in the world.
What other jobs led you to your current career?
I began my career as a special educator and, in that role, I had the privilege of recognizing that some of my students were performing exceptionally well in science and mathematics, students who were, in fact, gifted. That recognition inspired me to pursue gifted education, and I have now served as a gifted coordinator for over three years. This dual experience gives me a uniquely well-rounded perspective on the full spectrum of learner needs in a classroom.
I pursued and earned my gifted certification, and I am now a licensed, highly qualified, and certified special educator. I firmly believe that no child should be left behind, and that every student has the potential to learn in their own way. My combined credentials allow me to deliver specialized, tailored instruction that honors each student's unique strengths and challenges.
What are your degrees and certifications?
My academic background is masters in Science (Oral Biology) and Special Education, with minors in Mathematics and Language Arts. When I recognized that some of my students required more individualized instruction than a general education setting could offer, I returned to school to complete my degree in Special Education. I am now a licensed, highly qualified, and certified special educator with an additional science certification, making me a comprehensive educator prepared to support students across all core content areas.
What are your hobbies?
Rather than a fixed set of hobbies, my passion outside the classroom is rooted in community. I am actively involved in our community's Family and Learning Resource Center, where I volunteer on weekends to help children and their parents engage in hands-on STEM activities, LEGO challenges, and robotics. I also support parents in helping their children with homework and in connecting with community resources that can help their families thrive. Service and education are not separate in my life, they are one and the same.
What advice would you give someone who wants to have a career like yours?
My advice is simple: be patient and learn everything deeply. No knowledge is ever wasted. Once you develop a genuine command of your subject and of the human beings you are teaching, your path will become clear. Pursue every certification, every experience, and every opportunity to grow. Your career will not just follow you; it will flourish in ways you never anticipated. Believe in your students, and they will believe in themselves.
