Maggie McHugh
Lead Curriculum Developer - STEM
Dr. Maggie McHugh believes that all students are creative, compassionate, and capable learners who thrive when given meaningful opportunities to engage with the world around them. A longtime advocate for project-based learning, Maggie is the Lead Curriculum Developer – STEM at PBLWorks, where she leads secondary mathematics and science curriculum development and supports large-scale partnerships, including curriculum design work with the College Board.
Drawing on years of classroom experience and a passion for educational equity, Maggie specializes in helping students become agents of change through projects that address authentic community challenges. Her scholarship centers on project-based social justice mathematics, a focus reflected in her dissertation, Project Based Social Justice Mathematics: A Case Study of Five 6th Grade Students, completed as part of her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from New Mexico State University.
Maggie has designed multiple curriculum units for TEACH and has served as a National Faculty member with PBLWorks, supporting educators nationwide in implementing high-quality project-based learning. Her work bridges rigorous STEM learning, student agency, and real-world problem solving. Maggie's contributions to education have been recognized through numerous honors, including the 2021 Midwest Regional National University Teacher Award, Wisconsin Middle School Teacher of the Year, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), and National Board Certification in Early Adolescent Mathematics.
Whether developing curriculum, supporting teachers, or learning alongside students, Maggie remains committed to creating educational experiences that empower all learners to see themselves as capable changemakers.