Not long after joining the teaching staff at Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School this fall, Marcellin Mutuyimana, a Springboro resident and mathematics teacher, was selected to participate in the highly competitive Next Gem Innovator project—an invitation-only professional development program reserved for a small group of educators who demonstrate exceptional promise in STEM leadership and instructional innovation.
The Next Gem Innovator project replaces the STEM Fellows program, originally established in 2008 by the Montgomery County Educational Service Center, and has expanded into a nationally recognized initiative. The program brings together a select cohort of educators from across the country to collaborate, innovate, and apply STEM strategies in real-world classroom and industry contexts.
The initiative emphasizes leadership development, instructional innovation, and industry integration. Participants engage in hands-on workshops, apply the Innovation Design Protocol to refine ideas through structured peer feedback, and present their work at regional and national conferences, building connections with STEM professionals nationwide.
“Steve Fuchs encouraged me to apply for the program,” said Mutuyimana. “Being accepted was an opportunity to expand my skills and explore innovative strategies that I can bring back to my classroom. The program provides mentorship, access to emerging STEM technologies, and collaboration with more than 500 STEM educators from across the country.”
With more than 60 STEM industry partners in the Dayton region, the initiative helps ensure classroom instruction aligns with current workforce needs, equipping students with the skills and mindsets required for future careers.
“My hope is that my participation directly benefits my students by exposing them to meaningful, inquiry-driven STEM experiences that connect learning to the real world,” said Mutuyimana.
Chaminade Julienne has had several teachers participate in the STEM Fellows program in the past, and Fuchs believes Mutuyimana is a strong fit for this next-generation initiative.
“I am excited to see how Marcellin takes what he is learning through the Next Gem Innovator project and implements it into his curriculum,” said Fuchs.
Through the program, Mutuyimana was selected to present at both regional and national professional learning events. In March, he will present at Wright State University as part of a regional professional development conference, sharing strategies centered on inquiry-based learning and STEM integration.
In April, Mutuyimana will present a 60-minute session titled Igniting STEM Thinking Through Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) in the Math and Science Classroom at the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Conference in Anaheim, California. The session highlights classroom-tested, inquiry-based strategies that engage students in real-world STEM learning through data collection, modeling, sense-making, and authentic phenomena driven by student curiosity.
Before joining the Chaminade Julienne faculty, Mutuyimana served as a math teacher at the Abu Dhabi Vocational Education and Training Institute. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Wright State University and a master’s degree in mathematics education from Georgia State University.
“His background, combined with his involvement in the Next Gem Innovator project, reflects CJ’s commitment to providing students with forward-thinking educators who value growth, innovation, and leadership,” said Fuchs.