Spotlight: A New Era of STEM Learning at Hausner

From the foundation of Hausner’s creation, core values such as innovation, curiosity, and creativity have always been part of the curriculum. This year, the school is taking that commitment even further through the launch of a comprehensive new STEM Center of Excellence initiative, a major investment in facilities, curriculum, technology, and experiential learning opportunities designed to strengthen STEM education across every grade level. The program is overseen by Hausner’s Science Department Chair Liat Baranoff, who is entering her 20th year of teaching.

Made possible through the generous support of the Legacy Heritage Fund, which awarded Hausner an innovation project grant, alongside support from the Saal and Troper families and many other Hausner families and supporters, the initiative represents one of the school’s most ambitious academic expansions in recent years. The project combines large-scale campus upgrades with a reimagined STEM curriculum focused on inquiry, collaboration, and real-world problem solving. 

Throughout campus, classrooms and labs are being transformed with new equipment and learning spaces, strengthening the caliber of our Upper School science program and extending superior STEM teaching into the Lower School. Labs now feature a state-of-the-art chemistry fume hood and upgraded maker space ventilation, along with new whiteboards, projection systems, and classroom furniture. Students will also have access to advanced biotechnology tools, including PCR machines, gel electrophoresis equipment, microscopy resources, hydroponics and aquaponics, and mycology materials, enabling them to engage in authentic scientific experimentation at an early age.

At the center of the program is a new approach to STEM curriculum. Hausner is introducing specialized biotechnology labs, robotics programming, data science integration, and new elective offerings. The current robotics curriculum has already shown early success. In its first year, Hausner’s VEX IQ teams competed in multiple tournaments, earned an Amaze Award, and qualified for the Northern California regional state competition. 

These STEM initiatives are deeply rooted in Hausner’s Jewish values. Inquiry, ethical responsibility, and care for the world around us are key principles instilled in students from their first year in school, ingrained in every aspect of the school's curriculum. Bioethics lessons in grades 5 through 8 cover topics including plastic pollution, land use, and gene modification, encouraging students to think critically about how science intersects with responsibility and community. Garden-based learning and sustainability projects are used to reflect values such as stewardship and Tikkun Olam, and a collaborative classroom model emphasizes listening and shared problem-solving.

As the STEM Center of Excellence continues to develop, the initiative represents more than just an investment in new technology or facilities. It is an investment in our students to help them learn the best they can: through curiosity, experimentation, and meaningful connection to the world around them.