Monica Encarnacion
Monica Encarnacion is a Connected Educator with over two decades of experience teaching young children in a variety of capacities and across a wide range of grades. Monica holds a Master of Science in Education (Childhood Education) from St. John University and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English from Queens College.
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As a 4.0 Tiny Fellow, Monica founded Homeschool STEAM in January 2024. As a member of the VELA Founder Network, she was awarded a micro-grant, which helped her further establish herself as the founder and CEO of STEAMVENTURE INC. in October 2025.
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Monica is a NYC-licensed bilingual educator and Florida-certified teacher with 20+ years of experience working in public schools and non-traditional learning spaces.
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You can access Monica's digital business card here.
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"Education should not be one size fits all. Our kids are gardens, not assembly lines. Let's nurture them and watch them grown" ~Monica Encarnacion
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Monica's Story
Monica Encarnacion, a homeschooling mom with an education background, noticed a gap in the local homeschool community when it came to STEAM learning opportunities, pariticularly in computer science, and robotics. Determined to meet her own son's needs, she sought out a local robotics team associated with a charter school, and her son thrived. Inspired by this success she launched Homeschool STEAM.
Monica's former experience as National Summer Learning Association Teaching Fellow, equipped her with a maker mindset and further inspired her to create Homeschool STEAM as a way to support her local community and bring more opportunities for kids to tinker and learn through play and exploration. Monica hopes to make learning fun, more self-directed, project-based, and hands-on for kids of all ages, while empowering local families to guide their child's unique learning path. "What better way to build tomorrow's innovators, than by supporting them in the development of important life skills like independence, resilience and creativity!" Monica believes that "education should not be one size fits all. Our kids are gardens, not assembly lines. Let's nurture them and watch them grow."
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Fueled by a lifelong passion for educational equity and a belief in the power of community, Monica, now a 4.0 Tiny Fellow graduate, secured strategic partnerships and successfully piloted her Homeschool STEAM Fest initiative in April 2024. Hosted at the beautiful Mosiac Center for Nature, Exploration, Science and Technology, also known as "The Nest" at Robinson Presreve, a community education space for everyone from preschool to life long learners. STEAM Fest, a FREE family-friendly event, was a true dream come true and a resounding success with over 80 families participating. Learn more about STEAM Fest initiatives here.
Building on this success, STEAM Fest has become a popular local STEAM festival designed to ignite young minds through immersive, hands-on learning experiences focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) fields. By fostering a vibrant community for passionate STEAM-loving homeschooling families, the initiative seeks to empower homeschooled children to become tomorrow's innovators. Through continuous learning and active engagement with the homeschooling community, this festival is designed to cater to diverse learning styles, interests, and accessibility needs. Ultimately, Homeschool STEAM strives to create dynamic spaces where homeschooled children can thrive, connect with peers, and develop the skills and confidence to become well-rounded and empowered global citizens.
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Monica isn't stopping at the festival's success! She's actively developing new programs and forging new partnerships as part of her Homeschool STEAM initiatives to further meet the needs of the local homeschooling community. With the goal of establishing an impactful non-profit organization, Monica is currently securing additional funding, assembling a passionate board of directors, and building an advisory board with key players and community members.
*NEW: STEAMventure Learning Labs coming January 2025
But Monica's dedication to fun extends beyond work. When she's not dreaming up new and exciting education ventures, you can find her enjoying quality time on the beach with her two energetic kids and her uber-supportive husband, proving you can be a powerhouse and a beach bum – all at once!
More about monica
Monica is also a digital parenting expert and accomplished content creator. Through her family lifestyle tech and travel blog, NYCTechMommy.com, she empowers families to navigate the ever-changing world of technology.
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As a freelance writer and long-time contributor to Common Sense Media, Monica has been a writer of expert media reviews for educational apps, children's books, and TV shows for over a decade, providing families with age-based ratings and expert advice so they can feel good about the entertainment choices they make for their kids. Her past work as a Guest Blogger for Common Sense Media / Common Sense Latino (content in Spanish) also played a vital role in strengthen the existing Common Sense Latino content library on the topics of digital learning and home-school connection for Spanish speaking families.
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Monica's past work has greatly inspired and shaped the work she continues to do today. Drawing from her experiences as an educator and digital parenting expert, Monica is able to offer sound advice, helpful tools, and resources to support families as they navigate the challenges and possibilities of raising life-long learners in the 21st century.
Contact
I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.