Mi STEM Region 2
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MiSTEM Educator of the Year Award

Nominations window is now open (Nov 21, 2024 - Jan 3, 2025)

2024-25 Nomination form Link
Picture

Past MiSTEM Educator of the Year Awards


2024
STEM Educator of the Year Award:

Caleb Coon
Beach Middle School, Chelsea School District - Washtenaw County

STEM Integration Educator of the Year Award:
Cortney Forner
Northwest Early Elementary - Northwest Community Schools - Jackson County

​
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Lora Wallich
Michener Elementary, Adrian Public Schools - Lenawee County

Critical Partners Award:
Toyota Motors North America
Accepting for Toyota - Meg Wallace
Video of 2024 Event (being processed, check back for link)
Link to Photos of the event - credits to JD Scott, WCC

Picture
left to right: Caleb Coon, Lora Wallich, Scott Heister, Meg Wallace, Cortney Forner

2023
STEM Educator of the Year Award:

John Riedeman
Jackson Area Career Center - Jackson County

STEM Integration Educator of the Year Award:
Jill Cain
Three Fires Elementary School - Howell Public Schools - Livingston County

Critical Partners Award:
Southeast Michigan Stewardship Initiative (SEMIS)
Accepting for SEMIS - Ethan Lowenstein and Lisa Voelker

Link to Press Release for the event
2023 Banquet video

2022
STEM Educator of the Year Award:
Jennifer Mason
Southeast Michigan Center for Science and Industry - Hudson Area Schools 

STEM Integration Educator of the Year Award:
Khrissy Gilkerson
Eyler Elementary School -
 Airport Community Schools 

Critical Partners Award:
Washtenaw Community College
Accepting for WCC - Amy Carpenter and Susan Dentel
Video of 2021 and 2022 event (combined because of COVID)
2021-22 Banquet video

2021
STEM Educator of the Year Award:
Ron Schaffner
 Clinton High School - Clinton Community Schools 

​STEM Integration Educator of the Year Award:

Joseph Walsh
Riverside Intermediate School -
 Manchester Community Schools 
Video of 2021 and 2022 event (combined because of COVID)
2021-22 Banquet video

2020
STEM Educator of the Year Award:
Anne Hasseld
Hartland High School - Hartland Consolidated Schools - Livingston County

​STEM Integration Educator of the Year Award:

Ellen Supers
​
Luther C. Klager Elementary School -
 Manchester Community Schools - Washtenaw County
Video of the 2020 Event
2020 Banquet video

Check back to Nominate an Educator for 2024-25  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 at Washtenaw Community College as a culminating event of our collaborative STEAM Week activities (Date for 2024-25 Awards -TBD- 6:30-8:30 pm)

Location

Washtenaw Intermediate School District
1819 S. Wagner Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1406

Telephone

734-994-8100 x1267

Email

[email protected]

These materials were developed under a grant awarded by the Michigan Department of Education.

  • Home
  • Community Connections
  • Creating a Stem Culture
  • Empower STEM Teachers
  • MiSTEM Regional Director
  • Summer Learning
  • Ten80 Race Day
  • Events/Field Trips
  • Professional Learning Opportunities
  • Intersection of ART & STEM
  • Integrating Business and Industry
  • Educator of the Year Award
  • Jackson County
  • Washtenaw County