The interactions with SEEC staff during the three year听CLiPSE听project were professional, supportive, and extremely helpful. Their insights about STEM education as a critical friend to听the team helped to inform and guide the project in new directions as they asked questions that听likely would not have otherwise been asked, challenging project leadership to thoroughly reflect听on the project goals and foci to ensure the project met benchmarks and was competitive for听follow-on funding. Additionally, SEEC staff were reliable and responsive to changing project听needs and commitments.鈥澨�