Welcome to
Carmel Del Mar

The School with A Heart!

Ms. Nicole Buchanan: STEAM+ Science & Innovation

2025-2026 will be my second-year teaching in Del Mar Unified Schools and I am over the moon excited to continue leading the great community of Carmel Del Mar Elementary in their Science and Innovation journey! Lets Go!

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

I am originally from the South Shore of Boston, Massachusetts (Go Red Sox!), where I earned a BS in Science, Mathematics, and Technology, with a certification to teach. My teaching career started in my hometown as a Science Specialist, however my need for year-round sunshine, brought me to sunny San Diego. I found my love of STEM, teaching middle school science in San Diego Unified Schools for 12 years and working towards my Masters in EdTech at SDSU.

After moving to North County, my career moved to Carlsbad, with an opportunity to start up a STEAM program at Kelly Elementary School, the school my own children attend, focusing on design thinking and problem-based inquiry. The past eight years has been a pure joy in my life, but I am now ready and excited for a new journey at Carmel Del Mar in DMUSD.

I love teaching science, robotics, 3D design and printing, the engineering process, and Inventor Workshop. I feel lucky that I have found my true passion in teaching and now being able to share this passion at CDM.

RELATED EXPERIENCE

FLL Robotics Coordinator & Coach: Carlsbad Unified Schools
Inclusion Leadership Team Coordinator: Carlsbad Unified Schools
Apple Distinguished Educator: Apple Inc. Cupertino
Lego Master Educator: Boston, MA
Achievement Gap Task Force Presenter; San Diego Unified Schools
Presenter for Apple; CUE Conference, Palm Springs, CA
SDUS Science Professional Development Presenter: San Diego, CA

CONTACT INFORMATION:

nbuchanan@dmusd.org

(858) 481-6789 x3544

Room 404

Educational Philosophy
& What to Expect in STEAM+ Science & Innovation

In STEAM+ Science and Innovation students will be challenged to question, research, plan, design, invent, test, and evaluate while using a variety of learning and building tools. These tools, such as PHET Simulations, Scratch, Lego Robotics, 3D design, Merge Cubes and other VR learning and creative tools, will enable students to become game changers our world needs. Students will fail often, but in the STEAM+ Lab, they will learn from what does not work as much as what does.

I have seen first-hand that all students have the potential to be critical thinkers, designers, problem solvers, inventors, and when given the opportunity they think bigger and more empathetically than we can possibly imagine. They will be prepared for this ever changing world with experience and confidence to find new solutions to real world problems.

I look forward to this science journey we have ahead of us!

Link to Google Classroom

Link to Class Schedule

Link to Carmel Del Mar Homepage

Life Outside of the Dragon's Lair

I am a proud wife and mom of four, who keep me quite busy. When I am not at CDM, you will find me cheering my kid’s on at their cross country meets, robotics tournaments, basketball games, volleyball tournaments, theater performances and orchestra concerts. I love watching the Padres and Chargers with my boys. I love creating art with my girls. I love just slowing down and spending quality time with my family and close friends.