Dr. Katey Shirey’s work focuses on the intersection of art, science, and education. As an educator, Katey weaves creative thinking into science and math learning opportunities for students and teachers. As an artist, Katey makes sculpture and installations to learn and to teach physics, from large-scale wave machines to interactive compression-induced explosions.

Katey received a BA in physics and a BA in sculpture from the University of Virginia where she also completed her Master’s of Teaching in secondary science education Dr. Shirey became a Knowles Teaching Fellow and taught physics at Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia for five years. In addition to her work in the classroom, she served as a teacher liaison with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole and was a finalist in the 2013 NASA Astronaut Candidate selection.

In 2017, Katey completed her doctoral studies in science education teaching, learning, policy, and leadership at the University of Maryland. Her dissertation was titled, ” ‘How do we make this happen?’ Teacher challenges and productive resources for integrating engineering design into high-school physics.”

Along with other Knowles Senior Fellows who are interested in integrating engineering design into high school mathematics and science courses, Dr. Shirey played an active role in developing engineering-design integration materials and sustained professional learning experiences presented for teachers by teachers. She joined the Knowles community as a staff member in January 2016. As Program Officer for the Knowles Teacher Initiative’s Engineering Group, Dr. Shirey worked with teachers around the country to bring engineering design into their high school math and science classrooms. 

Now, as eduKatey LLC, Katey is assisting teachers around the world with integrated STEAM curriculum development, facilitation support, and innovative educational technologies. eduKatey’s clients include schools, districts, and non-profits in the USA and abroad.

Katey is an active participant in the Pre-College Engineering Education Division of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), where she serves as the Chair of the Commission on P12 Engineering Education (CP12) and the immediate past Awards Chair of the Commission on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (CDEI). In her spare time, she enjoys exploring culinary arts with her husband, creating textile art, and spoiling her dog, Molly.