Having worked for several years as an engineer in private companies such as IBM and for the U.S. Department of Defense, Sylvia Grace now teaches chemistry, engineering and math at Desert Ridge High School in Mesa. At Desert Ridge, Grace's innovations include Project Lead the Way, a four-year nationwide program for which Grace wrote and received a grant. The program introduces high school students to the rigors of engineering, focusing on the disciplines of mechanical, civil and electrical engineering. Grace also serves on the district's chemistry curriculum team, is a mentor for new science teachers and provides professional development through a course called Introduction to Engineering Design for Project Lead the Way during two weeks of intensive training at universities around the country, with ongoing training throughout the year. In 2006, Grace was invited to participate in a zero-gravity flight through a project between Northrop Grumman and AOL.
