Meet Kenny Bae
Faculty Information
Department(s)
Administration
Title(s)
Director of STEAM Innovation
Education
BS, Eastern Illinois University MS, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Contact Information
(Primary)
Other Information
Employed Since
2023
Biography
Kenny Bae received his BS degree in Physics, Radiation, and Applied Physics with a Math minor from Eastern Illinois University, and a Master’s degree in Atmospheric Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, defending his research on the ‘Measurement of Small Ice Crystals in Arctic Cirrus.’ Kenny is passionate about working with gifted students and using their learning differences as their superpower. While teaching high school physics and engineering, he received a NASA Robotics Growth Grant, designed to inspire students to be science and technology leaders by engaging them in hands-on projects. Kenny has won various awards/grants with students from engineering projects, including the 3D Printer Grant from 3D Systems and Coca-Cola, ICECF Solar School Grant, Disney Summer of Creativity Grant, NSF CISTEME365 with UIUC, Amazon Engineer Grant, and the HERlead Fellowship program. Kenny won the Lifetime Achievement award from the Green Schools Project in 2022. Project Green Schools honors and recognizes outstanding energy, environmental & STEAM education efforts led by individuals in communities nationally. Kenny was proud to support students in winning the U.S Department of Education Green Ribbon Award in 2018. He continues to advocate for sustainable energy and healthy environmental practices.
Kenny is excited to be a part of the ACS FLL Lego robotics club. Kenny has supported FIRST robotics and has been invited to the FIRST championship conference from 2016-2022 as a speaker based on innovative projects with his students, while also being acknowledged by the Educate to Innovate White House Initiatives in 2016. Kenny’s work has been recognized by the FIRST inspire blog which is shared to over millions of people in 100 + countries. He is excited to continue to grow project-based learning with students and to expand STEAM education at ACS. Kenny is also the organizer of the TEDxTheAveryCoonleySchool event this year and he’s excited to support students in planning for the event.
Born in Chicago, Kenny enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife and children, planting vegetables, organizing a TEDx talk event, inventing, and designing new innovative projects with students. Kenny’s work with students is recognized by Forbes Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, FIRST, WGN, CBS, Jay Leno, actress Daisy Ridley from Star Wars, Lucasfilm, Amazon Future Engineers, and so much more.