Since 2014, the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, now at the Iowa Department of Education, has partnered with Kemin Industries to honor outstanding teachers who inspire a passion for STEM in young Iowans. Now in the tenth year, the Iowa STEM Teacher Award is accepting nominations of deserving teachers through Oct. 10.
The Iowa STEM Teacher Award recognizes one full-time, licensed PreK-12 teacher from each of the state’s six STEM regions whose passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) motivates their students to develop a lifelong interest in STEM fields—both in and out of the classroom. The six selected recipients will each receive an award of $1,500 for their classrooms and $1,500 for personal use.
Any individual can nominate a teacher by visiting iowastem.org/teacheraward-application and completing the nomination form by Tuesday, October 10, at 11:59 p.m. Following nominations, eligible educators will fill out an application for review by a panel of judges. The award recipients will be announced in early 2024.
“We are delighted to acknowledge the exceptional impact that educators have had on our employees' journeys into STEM fields and their subsequent careers at Kemin," said Chris Nelson, Kemin Industries' president and CEO. "By fostering curiosity and inspiring young minds, these educators are molding a skilled workforce that will be well-equipped for their future roles. We extend our gratitude for their invaluable role in shaping the problem-solvers of tomorrow, and we take pride in honoring their remarkable contributions."
For more information, visit iowastem.org/teacheraward.