Ben Owens worked as a mechanical engineer for 20 years before becoming a STEM teacher at Tri-County Early College, a wall-to-wall PBL school in Murphy, NC. In his 11 year teaching career, he helped transform the school into one that has gained international recognition for its unique approach to learner-centered innovation, especially for students historically furthest from opportunity. Ben was the 2017 Bridging the Gap Distinguished Teacher in STEM Education; the 2016 SMT Center Outstanding 9-16 Educator; a Hope Street Group National Teaching Fellow. Ben also served on the Gates Foundation Teacher Advisory Council, was a National Faculty member with PBLWorks, and has been a routine “Community TA” for the MIT Teaching Systems Lab. He is currently an HundrED Ambassador and an Open Organization Ambassador. Ben co-authored the book, “Open Up, Education!” and in 2018, founded the non-profit, Open Way Learning to help schools use Human Centered Design in order to create cultural conditions where authentic, learner-centered innovation can thrive and scale.