Educator-selected recognition highlights TEACH's role in helping teachers turn Project Based Learnning training into sustainable classroom practice

San Rafael, CA (August 26, 2026)

PBLWorks, the global leader in Project Based Learning (PBL), announced today that PBLWorks TEACH™ has been named a 2026 Educators Pick Best of STEM® Award winner in the Bridging the Gap: Professional Development category. Evaluated and validated entirely by certified classroom teachers, specialists, and district leaders, the award highlights PBLWorks TEACH™ as a premier professional development solution for helping educators transition from PBL training into sustained, high-quality classroom practice.

“This year, hands-on learning in science, STEM, and CTE was fiercely competitive. Students are back at the lab bench, and educators are the ones deciding what makes the cut," said Daylene Long, founder of the Best of STEM Awards.

Bridging the Gap Between PBL Training and Classroom Implementation

Professional development can introduce educators to the principles of Project Based Learning, but putting those principles into practice consistently can require ongoing support, planning resources, and opportunities to build confidence.

PBLWorks TEACH™ is a web-based professional development and curriculum resource designed to solve this implementation gap. Rather than requiring teachers to build units from scratch, TEACH provides standards-aligned, classroom-ready PBL projects paired with embedded support—including instructional coaching videos, step-by-step planning tools, assessments, and collaborative learning tools.

“This recognition from educators is especially meaningful because TEACH was created to address a challenge we hear from teachers and school leaders every day: knowing the value of Project Based Learning is one thing, but having the support to make it work consistently in the classroom is another,” said Bob Lenz, CEO of PBLWorks. “TEACH gives educators the resources, guidance, and flexibility to put high-quality PBL into practice. We’re proud that educators recognize its value in helping make deeper learning more achievable for teachers and students.”

Advancing High-Quality, Equitable Project Based Learning

PBLWorks TEACH supports educators in creating learning experiences built around authentic projects, collaboration, problem-solving, and student agency. Through these experiences, students can deepen academic understanding while developing skills such as critical thinking, communication, and collaboration.

The Educators Pick Best of STEM recognition follows TEACH’s 2026 CODiE Award for Best Emerging Instructional Technology Solution, where it was selected from 228 finalists across 75 categories. Together, these awards validate PBLWorks TEACH™ as a vital tool for school districts seeking to scale high-quality Project Based Learning sustainably.

To view the complete list of 2026 Educators Pick Best of STEM Award winners, visit: Home - Educators Pick Best of STEM Awards.  

About PBLWorks 

The Buck Institute for Education/PBLWorks believes that all students, especially Black and Brown students, should have access to high-quality Project Based Learning to deepen their learning and achieve success in college, career, and life. Its focus is on building the capacity of teachers to design and facilitate high-quality Project Based Learning, and on supporting school and system leaders in creating the conditions for these teachers to succeed with all students. 

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