Tag Archives: STEM teachers

NY STEM teacher Xue Qing Liang garners coveted PAEMST award

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Science teacher Xue Qing Liang of Brooklyn, New York, has garnered a coveted 2023 PAEMST award. Photo credit: United Federation of Teachers

There are so many talented educators who have earned recognition for their hard work in the classroom. One of these is Xue Qing Liang, a high school science teacher from Brooklyn, New York. She has garnered a coveted 2023 PAEMST award.

The PAEMST, Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, recognize the dedication, hard work, and importance that America’s teachers play in supporting learners who will become future STEM professionals, including computer technologists, climate scientists, mathematicians, innovators, space explorers, and engineers. The PAEMST program, founded in 1983, is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The honor comes with a meeting with the President and a $10,000 cash prize.

Xue Qing teaches Chemistry at New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn. She has taught at the school for seven years. In her classroom, the honored teacher incorporates engineering design, role playing, and reflective discussions in her lesson plans. Her students act as investigators and solve a real-world problems. Furthermore, to help minimize language barriers, Xue Qing teaches a Chinese Bilingual Chemistry class.

In addition to her classroom lessons, Xue Qing is involved with her school’s Science Olympiad. Also, she has participated in Math for America where she co-designs environmentally sustainable labs by incorporating the principles of green chemistry. She has also participated in Engineering for Tomorrow, discussing students’ final projects with NASA engineers.

Xue Qing earned her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the College of Staten Island. She earned a Master’s degree in Science Education from CUNY Brooklyn College, and a second Master’s degree in Chinese from Hunter College. She also completed the requirements for an Advanced Certificate in Bilingual Education from Brooklyn College.

Idaho teacher Dr. Kellie Taylor garners 2022 AIAA STEM Educator Award

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Dr. Kellie Taylor, a teacher from Boise, Idaho, has earned a coveted 2022 Trailblazing STEM Educator Award from the Challenger Center and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Photo credit: Idaho News

Many hardworking educators earn accolades for their create innovative STEM programs. One of these is Dr. Kellie Taylor, an elementary school teacher from Idaho whose innovative curriculum garnered her a coveted 2022 Trailblazing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Educator Award from the Challenger Center and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). This annual award celebrates five K-12 educators from around the country who have gone above and beyond to nurture the next generation of innovators in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Kellie teaches second and third graders in the Gifted and Talented program at Hawthorne Elementary in Boise. During her entire 19-year career, the honored educator has prioritized STEM subjects in her classroom. She emphasizes project-based learning with a strong focus on coding, robotics, space education, and hands-on learning. In addition, she leads STEM curriculum development, hosts STEM-focused after-school activities, and shares her passion for STEM education by leading professional development workshops for her colleagues.

Kellie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 2004, her Master’s degree in Educational Technology in 2006, and her PhD in Educational Technology in 2016, all from Boise State University. In addition to her Trailblazing honors, she was also selected an Albert Einstein distinguished Educator Fellow in 2019. In this role, she collaborated with the Educational Outreach program of the Library of Congress. She has also worked for three years as a STEM Master Teacher at the Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC.

As part of her AAIA award, Kellie received $5,000, and an additional $5,000 went to her school. In addition, she received free access to Challenger Center STEM programming, which supplements classroom lessons through Earth and space-themed journeys. The programming includes hands-on, simulated learning experiences; Center Missions delivered at Challenger Learning Centers around the globe; Virtual Missions delivered by Challenger Learning Center Flight Directors; and digital experiences delivered by teachers in their classrooms. To learn more about the Trailblazer Award, click on this link to AIAA.

DC STEM teacher Rabiah Harris earned prestigious PAEMST

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Middle school STEM teacher Rabiah Harris of Washington, DC, has earned a prestigious 2023 PAEMST (Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching). Photo credit: Rabiah Harris

It is always a pleasure to recognize exemplary teachers who have earned accolades for their work in the profession. Today we celebrate middle school teacher Rabiah Harris of Washington, DC. She has garnered a prestigious 2023 PAEMST (Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching).

The PAEMST recognizes the dedication, hard work, and importance that America’s teachers play in supporting learners who will become future STEM professionals, including computer technologists, climate scientists, mathematicians, innovators, space explorers, and engineers. The PAEMST program, founded in 1983, is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The honor comes with a visit to the White House and a $10,000 cash prize.

In a career that has spanned ten years, Rabiah has worked the past two of them at Ida B. Wells Middle School in Washington, DC. She also serves as the Science Department Chair there. Prior to her position at Wells, she taught at Jefferson Middle School Academy, Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School, and Kelly Miller High School, all schools that are part of the District of Columbia Public Schools System.

Rabiah says the work she does on her campus enables her to make a significant contribution to improving student learning. “It all boils down to the fact that I love to help others, peers and students, and will do that in any and everywhere I can!” she declares. “It’s fun to be a part of such a strong community as the middle school has,” she continues.

Rabiah earned her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Howard University in 2004. She earned her Master’s degree in Secondary Science Education in 2005. She completed the requirements for her PhD in STEM Education from the University of Pittsburgh in 2018. In addition to her PAEMST, Rabiah garnered a Shell Urban Science Teacher Award from National Science Teachers Association in 2020.

 

2023 National Teacher of the Year Rebecka Peterson earns congrats from First Lady Jill Biden

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The name of the 2023 National Teacher of the Year was announced last month, and her name is Rebecka Peterson! Congratulations, Rebecka! And we’re not the only ones to congratulate her. First Lady Jill Biden also sent the honored educator good wishes.

Rebecka teaches mathematics to sophomores, juniors, and seniors at Union High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has just completed her 14th year in education and her 11th at Union High School.

To learn more about Rebecka and see the message from the First Lady, view this eight-minute YouTube video of her April 19, 20223, appearance on CBS Mornings:

Iowa STEM educator Katrina Williams earns AIAA 2022 Trailblazing Award

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Middle school mathematics teacher Katrina Williams from Ames, Iowa, earned a coveted 2022 Trailblazing STEM Educator Award. Photo credit: Ames Tribune

Many hardworking educators create innovative STEM programs for their eager learners. One of these is Katrina Williams, a middle school teacher from Iowa whose innovative curriculum earned her a coveted 2022 Trailblazing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Educator Award from the Challenger Center and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). This award celebrates five K-12 educators from around the country who have gone above and beyond to inspire the next generation of explorers and innovators in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

As part of her AAIA award, Katrina received $5,000, and an additional $5,000 went to her school. In addition, she received free access to Challenger Center STEM programming which supplements classroom lessons through Earth and space-themed journeys. The programming includes hands-on, simulated learning experiences; Center Missions delivered at Challenger Learning Centers around the globe; Virtual Missions delivered by Challenger Learning Center Flight Directors; and digital experiences delivered by teachers in their classrooms. To learn more about the Trailblazer Award, click on this link to AIAA.

Katrina’s career as an educator spans 28 years. Currently, she teaches mathematics at Ames Middle School in Ames, Iowa. The honored teacher is enthusiastic about connecting real-world STEM careers and lessons to her classroom. She has made it her mission to expose underserved and under-represented students to STEM disciplines and careers. But her work to support learners goes beyond her classroom walls. In order to expand her students’ experiences, she frequently hosts STEM-focused after-school activities, field trips, and career expos.

Garnering an AIAA award is not the only recognition Katrina has earned. In Dec. 2022, she was named to the She was also an Academic Advisor at Iowa State University and a former Director of the Mathematics Laboratory at Spelman College. And she is a 2021-2022 Iowa’s Fierce and Fearless STEM Teacher Recipient and a Code.org Computer Science (CS) Discoveries Iowa educator.

Katrina earned her Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Arkansas, Little Rock, and her Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia. Katrina is a member of EDGE-Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education. She is a certified gifted educator and certified SPED-Special Education educator.