In this Between Meetings episode, Lisa Davis shares how STEM Innovation Academy went from idea to Alberta’s first new charter school in 25 years, the policies and facilities that made it possible, and how a clear instructional model keeps culture consistent across campuses. She details the UCalgary MOU, the MIT partnership that enables advanced STEM content for teachers and students, and how industry-aligned projects build confidence and career clarity. Looking ahead, Lisa calls for more ambition in education, expansion to meet demand, and a provincial STEM Centre of Excellence.

Takeaways:

Opened Alberta’s first new charter school in 25 years, built for innovation.
Charter schools are the entrepreneurs of public education.
Turned an office tower into a “Charter Innovation Hub.
Clear model, shared assessments, and data keep culture consistent.
Partnerships (UCalgary MOU, MIT) tighten the school-to-university transition.
Real industry projects make learning relevant and practical.
Multiple on-ramps (robotics levels, biomedical) help close participation gaps.
Call for more provincial ambition and a STEM Centre of Excellence to share playbooks with any Alberta school.

Lisa Davis is the Founder of STEM Innovation Academy and STEM Collegiate two of Alberta’s top-ranked STEM charter schools. Her schools lead the province in Math and Science achievement and hold Canada’s only K–12 partnership with MIT’s Beaver Works. She’s passionate about expanding access to STEM education and building Alberta’s future innovation talent.

Between Meetings is a video podcast with industry leaders, startup founders, and ecosystem builders. Each episode explores the realities of building, investing, and supporting innovation while catching guests between meetings during a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice. Since 2023, Between Meetings has been helping tell Calgary’s innovation story one conversation at a time.

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