Nominations being accepted for Iowa STEM Teacher Award

DES MOINES — Nominations are being accepted until Oct. 10, for the Iowa STEM Teacher Awards.

The Iowa STEM — which stands for science, technology, engineering and math — Teacher Award recognizes one preschool to 12th grade teacher from each of the state’s six STEM regions whose passion motivates their students to develop a lifelong interest in STEM fields — both in and out of the classroom, according to a news release from the Iowa Department of Education.

“The STEM Educator Award helps celebrate our dedicated teachers as they create engaging learning experiences for students and illuminate in-demand STEM career opportunities,” said McKenzie Snow, director of the Iowa Department of Education. “We look forward to your nominations of incredible STEM educators across Iowa.”

The six selected recipients will each receive an award of $1,500 for their classrooms and $1,500 for personal use. The STEM regions are Northwest Iowa, North Central Iowa, Northeast Iowa, Southwest Iowa, South Central Iowa and Southeast Iowa.

The award is hosted by the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, made up of 50-members and co-chaired by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Foundation Analytical Laboratory Owner and Director of Technical Services Diane Young.

The Governor’s STEM Advisory Council was established in July 2011 as a public-private partnership of educators, companies and Iowa students and families addressing policies and programs designed to improve Iowa’s educational system focused on STEM.

The advisory council became a part of the Iowa Department of Education July 1, to bring together entities working with similar subject matter.

The STEM Council works to engage and prepare students for a career ready workforce path, regain Iowa’s leadership position in education and provide a vital competitive economic advantage now, and for the future, to ensure that every Iowa student has access to world-class STEM education opportunities.

“Iowa’s STEM teachers are instrumental in guiding future generations toward rewarding careers in the state,” said Jeff Weld with the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at the Iowa Department of Education. “We are grateful for all our educators and the role they play in building a strong Iowa economy. The STEM Council is thrilled to partner with Kemin Industries to honor six deserving teachers each year.”

This year, the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at the Iowa Department of Education is partnering with Kemin Industries of Des Moines for the 10th year of the award. Kemin is a global ingredient manufacturer that supplies more than 500 specialty ingredients for human and animal health and nutrition, pet food, aquaculture, nutraceutical, food technologies, crop technologies, textile, biofuels and animal vaccine industries.

Any individual can nominate a teacher by visiting iowastem.org/teacheraward-application and completing the nomination form by 11:59 p.m. Oct. 10. 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.”

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