PZ PGH Learning and Thinking that Make a Difference (May 2026)

Heidi Bachman is an experienced Project Zero educator with over 30 years in independent schools across Washington, DC; New York; California; and Germany. She began her career fascinated by how young children develop their natural inquiry skills and has worked as a Student Support Coordinator, Lower School Principal, and Lower Division Director. Currently, she is the Middle School Learning Specialist at Maret in Washington, DC, where she teaches a Design Thinking class to 7th graders, blending maker skills with the development of executive functioning skills. Her work focuses on how thinking routines and visible thinking practices support executive functioning and schema building for neurodiverse students. Heidi is passionate about how education creates a more just and inclusive society. She holds a BA in History from Trinity University, an MA in Elementary Science Education from Mills College, and an MSc in Inclusive and Special Education from the University of Edinburgh. A former doula, current dragon boat paddler, and lifelong maker, Heidi is deeply interested in how hands-on design-thinking experiences enhance teaching and learning.