Look back for nominations window opening in the Fall of 2023

Link to Nominations Form

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Past MiSTEM Educator of the Year Awards

2023
STEM Educator of the Year Awardee:
John Riedeman
Jackson Area Career Center - Jackson County
STEM Integration Educator of the Year Awardee:
Jill Cain
Three Fires Elementary School - Howell Public Schools
Video of 2023 Event (being processed, check back for link)

2021-22 Banquet video

2022
STEM Educator of the Year Awardee:
Jennifer Mason
Southeast Michigan Center for Science and Industry - Hudson Area Schools 
STEM Integration Educator of the Year Awardee:
Khrissy Gilkerson
Eyler Elementary School - Airport Community Schools 
Video of 2021 and 2022 event (combined because of COVID)

2021-22 Banquet video

2021
STEM Educator of the Year Awardee:
Ron Schaffner
 Clinton High School - Clinton Community Schools 
STEM Integration Educator of the Year Awardee:
Joseph Walsh
Riverside Intermediate School - Manchester Community Schools 
Video of 2021 and 2022 event (combined because of COVID)

2020 Banquet video

2020
STEM Educator of the Year Awardee:
Anne Hasseld
Hartland High School - Hartland Consolidated Schools 
STEM Integration Educator of the Year Awardee:
Ellen Supers
​Luther C. Klager Elementary School - Manchester Community Schools 
Video of the 2020 Event

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Check back to Nominate an Educator for 2023-24  MiSTEM Region 2 Educator(s) of the Year

Information about the MiSTEM Educator of the Year Awards:
Two educators recognized each year:

• STEM Educator of the Year Award: The award recognizes a consistent record of outstanding teaching and related activities in STEM fields, focusing on the last 5 years accomplishments.
• STEM Integration Educator of the Year Award: The award recognizes an educator who primarily teaches outside of traditional STEM-fields and who has a consistent record of integration of STEM-principles and high quality STEM-related experiences for students, focusing on the last 5 years accomplishments.

Selection criteria: 

• In order to ensure that ample evidence on which to evaluate teaching performance is available, educators become eligible after 3-years as a full-time educator. 

• Educators must be a full-time K-12/Middle College Educator in the MiSTEM Region 2 area with at least ½ of their contractual time instructing students. Evaluators should understand that great educators do more than excel as a classroom instructor. 
• The essence of great teaching is the ability to create highly effective experiences for the learner, where the educator designs situations and fosters experiences which enable the learner to construct meaning for themselves. It should be recognized that contributing to changing the STEM Culture in the community is an important part of being an outstanding STEM Educator. 

This list of criteria represents some of the main qualities that define an outstanding STEM Educator. It is not an exhaustive list and it is recognized that other qualities of excellence can and do exist. The award winner need not excel in all of these categories. 
Criteria (listed in no specific order): 

• The educator promotes active learning and successfully encourages students to think imaginatively, critically, and independently. 
• The educator promotes a love of learning and develops an appreciation for the relationship between STEM-based content and society.  
• The educator supports the learner by building resilience and helping them to learn the advantages of failing forward. 
• The educator uses design process thinking and engages students in STEM-based learning experiences. 
• The educator interacts enthusiastically and effectively with learners beyond the classroom, creating circumstances to productively to engage learners in STEM-based opportunities to address individual needs of all learners. 
• The educator’s pedagogical techniques are appropriate to, and effective with, a variety of different learning styles.

Nomination Procedure: 

• Any member community may nominate an educator from any public, charter or private K-12/middle college in the MiSTEM Region 2 area for this award by completing this nomination form. The information collected in the nomination process will be used as a part of the selection process.
• The candidates will be invited to complete an educator of the year application and to provide materials that will assist with the evidence criteria listed above.
• In accepting candidacy, the candidates agree to provide the committee with appropriate materials such as teaching certification(s) and agrees to allow release of publicity material associated with the award. 

Award: 

• Winners of the STEM Educator of the Year Award will be:
• Recognized at an MiSTEM Regional VIP Recognition Ceremony, 
• Be granted a $1000 MiSTEM Region 2 Grant to use in support of STEM-based experiences in which they are engaging their students,
• Have their educational setting  included in a MiSTEM Region 2 promotional video,
• Be invited to be a representative on the MiSTEM Region 2 Steering Committee.
•  Awardee(s) will be expected to give a short 3-5 minute acceptance speech at the Awards Ceremony. 

 Recognition Ceremony:
The MiSTEM Recognition Ceremony will be held in conjunction with the Washtenaw Community College STEAM Week and LSAMP STEM-Scholarship Award Recipient VIP Recognition Ceremony (Date for 2023-24 Awards - March 2, 2023 - 6:30-9:00 pm)