It appears that a disconnect may exist between the taught curriculum in middle school and the real-world applications of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) concepts, leaving students underprepared to envision themselves in future STEM roles. This two-cycle action research study investigated the connection between middle school STEM taught curriculum and student awareness of career opportunities within STEM fields within the Northeast of the United States. Cycle 1 participants included middle school STEM teachers who were interviewed about the middle school curricular expectations and opportunities to introduce STEM careers. Following two levels of in vivo coding, the themes identified in Cycle 1 were: STEM future roles may be hard to predict; teachers need materials that they can integrate into their programmatic curriculum; and middle schoolers need to be able to comprehend information about their STEM career options. This data informed the collaborative development of an action step: the creation of career-focused videos designed to connect curriculum and workforce realities for middle school teachers. Teachers were again the participants and stakeholders in the second cycle of research, while STEM professionals served as collaborators. A triangulated approach to evaluation incorporated data from teacher focus groups, student feedback, and YouTube commentary analysis to assess the action step's effectiveness. This study found that 1. Teachers close the circuit; they are crucial curricular informants and gatekeepers, 2. Student engagement depends on the availability of materials that are both relatable and tailored to their level of understanding, and 3. Connecting professionals to students requires innovative, multimodal, and classroom-ready materials to provide a meaningful entry point for professionals and bridge the gap between theory and real-world practice. Recommendations from this study suggest curriculum enhancements that may foster stronger connections between STEM learning and the vast array of career possibilities, specifically in connecting teachers and STEM professionals. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]