
Paaven Thaker
Paaven is a curriculum developer and former STEM educator with over a decade of experience designing project-based learning experiences that engage students in meaningful, rigorous work. Paaven is passionate about the transformative power of PBL to spark love of learning and build equitable outcomes for students.She began her career as a classroom teacher in Brooklyn, NY, where her work at a diverse-by-design charter network deepened her commitment to culturally responsive instruction. She later served as Math & Science Department Head and K–12 Network Science Curriculum Specialist at the network, coaching teachers in equity-centered STEM instruction and developing standards-aligned IB curriculum resources. After moving back home to the Chicago area, she continued creating hands-on, project-based learning experiences at an independent school before joining Project Lead The Way as an instructional developer, where she designed STEM learning experiences that embedded design thinking, authentic contexts, and collaborative problem-solving.Paaven’s approach to curriculum development focuses on creating engaging, inquiry-driven content that connects students’ learning to real-world challenges. She loves designing joyful learning experiences where students have multiple pathways into complex content and enjoys collaborating with teachers to bring projects to life in their classrooms. Outside of work, she can often be found painting, reading mysteries, or walking her dog along the lake. She is thrilled to join the PBLWorks team and contribute to creating high-quality PBL curriculum that reaches more students and teachers.