Jason Porter, the STEM Department Chair at Church Farm School, has been selected as a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) STEM Ambassador for 2025-2026.
This distinction places him among just 30 educators nationwide to lead initiatives in science, technology, engineering, and math under the DoD ambassador program.
Each STEM Ambassador is selected through a rigorous application process by an organization in the Defense STEM Education Consortium (DSEC) or by a DoD agency. DSEC is a collaboration between academia, industry, nonprofits, and government entities aimed at preparing the next generation STEM workforce.
Porter will work closely with his host organization, TIES (Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM), throughout the year to develop curriculum and materials in support of DoD priority critical technology areas, like biotechnology, quantum science, advanced materials, and robotics.
The program represents a critical investment in America’s future workforce, focusing on developing STEM education capabilities essential to maintain the U.S. national security advantage.
Porter has 18 years of experience in education, including teaching biology and environmental science at the university and high school levels, serving as an assistant principal, and facilitating professional development for educators as part of an education nonprofit.
“Serving as a DoD STEM Ambassador is an amazing opportunity to connect students at Church Farm School with many exciting and career-sparking opportunities available through DoD STEM and its partners,” Porter said. “I look forward to learning with and from the current cohort of DoD STEM Ambassadors to make sure my students have every opportunity to explore the exciting possibilities of pursuing a STEM career during and beyond their high school years.”
The DoD STEM Ambassador program provides each selected educator with support, reflecting the Department of Defense’s commitment to evidence-based approaches that inspire and develop the nation’s science and technology workforce.
Learn more about how Church Farm School offers a challenging curriculum and an exceptional level of personal attention, with class sizes averaging between just seven and 12 students.
