Tag Archives: STEM teachers

GA teacher Natasha Berry recognized as outstanding educator

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Elementary school teacher Natasha Berry has been recognized for her outstanding work in the classroom. Photo Credit: Valdosta Daily Times

It is always a pleasure to share the story of an outstanding teacher working in public schools. One of these is Natasha Berry, an exceptional STEM teacher from the state of Georgia.

Natasha inaugurated her career as a professional educator in 2003 after earning her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Valdosta State University. She also earned certification in Gifted and Talented Education. She currently works as a STEM Lab teacher for Henry County Schools in Henry County, Georgia. Prior to that, she taught third graders at Sallas Mahone Elementary School in the Valdosta City School District, and before that, she taught in the Lowndes County system for 14 years. In all, her career as an educator spans 20 years.

The daughter of a military veteran, Natasha was forced to relocate several times as a child, but she spent most of her life in Valdosta. Despite her moves, Natasha had strong support for education in her childhood home. “I come from a family of educators. My mother and many of my aunts and uncles are in the education profession,” she reveals. “I grew up watching and admiring the countless hours my mom spent using her creative talent to make learning exciting and engaging for the students inside her classroom every single day.”

For her work in the classroom, Natasha garnered a 2023 Gale Samuels Award from the Georgia Teachers of the Year Association.  The honor is bestowed in memory of Gale Samuels, a beloved educator at the Georgia Department of Education who contracted leukemia and passed away in 1998. Samuels was considered instrumental in promoting excellence in teaching in her state.

The Gale Samuels Award is not the only recognition Natasha has earned. In 2022, she was named a finalist for Georgia Teacher of the Year. In 2019, she was honored as the Sallas Mahone Teacher of the Year, and that same year this Chalkboard Champion was named the Valdosta City Schools Co-Teacher of the Year.

Iowa teacher Heather Anderson recognized as frontrunner in STEM education

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Elementary school teacher Heather Anderson has a reputation as a frontrunner in STEM education. Photo Credit: Iowa STEM Advisory Council. 

Here is one educator who has earned a name for herself as a frontrunner in STEM education: Heather Anderson, an elementary school teacher from Waukee, Iowa.

Heather teaches second grade at Grant Eagan Elementary in Waukee, where she has worked since 2014. In her classroom, Heather has created a Makerspace area, and in this space she encourages students to bring parts or materials to class to examine how things are made. She has also organized a bristle-bot honeybee construction unit, which has become a favorite learning activity among her students.

For her efforts to further STEM education, Heather has received a whopping total of 28 different STEM-related grants. She has also garnered no less than four awards through the STEM Scale-Up Program. She was selected the first elementary teacher to participate in the Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Program in 2017. In addition, she has participated in the National Summer Institute in Japan and the NEAF Global Learning Fellowship in Peru. And, as if all this were not enough, she sits on the Des Moines Public School Board.

For her work in STEM education, Heather has earned many accolades. She was the recipient of the 2015 NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence on a national level. That same year, she was named the recipient of a California Casualty Award for Teaching Excellence. In 2014, she earned an Outstanding Volunteer Award from the Iowa Urban Tree Council. In 2013, she was awarded an

Heather earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Upper Iowa University in 1997. She was also certified by the Iowa Montessori Training Center in 2006.

Nice going, Heather!

Hawaii’s Michael Ida named his state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year

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Secondary math teacher Michael Ida of Honolulu, Hawaii, has been named his state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: Hawaii News Now

There are many excellent educators throughout our country who are deserving of recognition. One of them is Michael Ida from Hawaii, a secondary math teacher who has been named his state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.

In a career that has spanned 26 years, Michael has taught all of them at  Kalani High School in Honolulu, where he conducts courses in mathematics and computer science. He also serves as the Chairperson for the Mathematics Department, as an Academic Review Team member, and as a club advisor. He spearheaded the development of the computer science program at Kalani High. And as if all the were not enough, he also leads technology-related professional development sessions for his school faculty.

Michael has a reputation for being a lifelong learner and for being dedicated to the service of others. “He goes above and beyond for not only his students, but for any staff member that needs help,” asserts Kalani High Principal Mitch Otani. “During the pandemic, he was the one that was helping people with all the technology and everything else. He’s one that is always there to help and support anyone,” Otani continues.

In addition to his work with students, Michael serves on the leadership teams of the Hawaii Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the Hawaii chapter of the Computer Science Teachers Association, and the Hawaii National Board Certified Teachers Collective. He also serves as an accreditation visiting team member for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and as an exam reader for Advanced Placement Calculus.

Michael earned his Bachelor’s degree in Physics and Applied Mathematics from the California Institute of Technology in 1991. He earned his Master’s degree and a PhD in applied mathematics from Northwestern University in 1995. He also earned a Master’s degree in Secondary Education from Boston College in 1996. Additionally, he was recognized as a National Board Certified Teacher in Adolescent/Young Adult Mathematics in 2004.

To read more about Michael Ida, click on this link to a story about him published by the Hawaii State Department of Education.

Louisiana teacher Maura Lewis featured on local news station

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Here is a story about Maura Lewis, an exceptional teacher from Woodlawn Middle School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She teaches Algebra, computer science, and STEM to seventh and eighth graders. Maura was recently named exceptional educator by her local television news station, WVLA NBC Local 33, and BRProud. She was featured on a recent segment on the television network.

Congratulations, Maura!

Science teacher Cheryl Turpin served in VA State House of Delegates

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Science teacher Cheryl Turpin, third from left, works with students at Cox High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She was elected to serve in her state’s House of Delegates. Photo Credit: Christine Organ

Many excellent educators have also served as capable politicians. One of these was Cheryl Turpin, a high school science teacher who has represented her community in the Virginia State House of Delegates.

Cheryl was born in 1963 in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Her father, who served 23 years in the military, eventually settled the family in Fairfax County, Virginia.

As a young woman, Cheryl earned her Bachelor’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. She earned her Master’s degree in Education from the University of Virginia.

After earning her degrees, Cheryl taught science at the high school level in public schools in Virginia Beach. Currently she teaches Advanced Placement environmental Science at Frank W. Cox High School. She is also a participant in AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), a program that seeks to close the achievement gap by preparing minority students for college. For her exemplary work with students, Cheryl was nominated for Teacher of the Year by her fellow teachers at Cox High in 2016.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Cheryl has served as a Board Member for the Make a Difference Foundation, as Activities Coordinator for several school PTA’s, a Girl Scouts Troop Leader, a coach for the Neighborhood Soccer League, and a member of the Sierra Club.

In November of 2017, Cheryl was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent the 85th District, which includes Virginia Beach. She remained in office from Jan., 2018 to Jan., 2020. As a legislator, Cheryl sat on the Education Committee. She was an advocate for reducing mandated testing so that more time could be added back into classroom instruction. She also supported full-day public kindergarten for every child in Virginia, putting more resources into STEM education, and classroom technology for teachers. She was also committed to expanding economic opportunity for Virginians by increasing infrastructure spending, raising the minimum wage, creating an economic environment that encouraged small businesses, and expanding broadband access.