Leigh Estabrooks

Leigh Estabrooks is the Invention Education Officer at the Lemelson-MIT Program, where she has been instrumental since 2006 in expanding invention education initiatives across K-14 in the United States. Her role focuses on developing programs that engage students in inventing solutions to real-world problems, fostering creativity and critical thinking in educational settings. Under her leadership, the program has grown from a single high school grant initiative, InvenTeams®, to include a variety of educational resources and professional development opportunities for teachers and students alike.12

Background and Experience

• Education: Estabrooks holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Tennessee, a Master of Science in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Northeastern University.2
• Professional Journey: Before her current position, she worked as a secondary public school teacher and held various roles in research and development for major corporations, including Tambrands, Inc., and The Coca-Cola Company. This diverse background informs her approach to invention education, emphasizing the importance of intellectual property and innovation.12

Contributions to Invention Education

Estabrooks has published research validating the impact of invention education (IvE) on student engagement and learning outcomes. Her work includes guiding high school teams that have successfully secured U.S. patents for their inventions. She is dedicated to creating inclusive educational environments that empower students to take ownership of their learning processes.23

Philosophy

Leigh Estabrooks is passionate about nurturing young inventors, believing that "inventing is just plain fun." Her commitment to connecting educators and students with resources reflects her broader goal of fostering a culture of innovation within educational systems.23