Society for Science & the Public Gives $100k to Science Teachers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Society for Science & the Public is excited to announce that the organization will be giving a total of $100,000 to 24 middle school science teachers across the country to support STEM research activities in their classrooms. Each teacher will receive a grant of up to $5,000 to spend on scientific research equipment, such as Raspberry Pi computers, water and soil testing kits and computer software for data analysis. To date, the Society has provided $120,000 in grants to STEM teachers through this program.

“I’m excited to be providing this financial support to middle school teachers who encounter students at such an important point in their lives,” said Maya Ajmera, President & CEO of the Society for Science & the Public. “During this crucial time, students start setting the stage for their future path in high school while some young people begin drifting away from their interests in STEM. By providing these teachers with the resources to build a meaningful STEM research program, we are helping to engage the next generation of leaders in engineering and science.”

The Society’s STEM Research Grant Program supports educators who are implementing fresh and innovative teaching methods to shed light on discoveries that can be made through original STEM research projects. The one-time grants, in large part, are provided to educators in schools serving in low-income areas or underrepresented students.

In 2017, the program provided $120,000 to nearly 30 high school teachers. In 2018, the Society chose to focus on middle school teachers. The 2018 recipients represent 18 states and the U.S. territory, American Samoa.

The following teachers received STEM Research Grants to fund equipment and other programming:

1. Devin Berge, La Plata Middle School (Silver City, NM) – $5,000
2. Elizabeth Clark, Manchester Middle School, (Richmond, VA) – $3,000
3. Fernando Cleves, Joyce Kilmer Upper School, (West Roxbury, MA) – $3,000
4. Melanie Corell, Guinyard-Butler Middle School, (Barnwell, SC) – $5,000
5. Mary Crowley, Murray Middle School, (St. Paul, MN) – $5,000
6. Anthony Duncan, John S. Gillett Intermediate School, (Kingsville, TX) – $2,000
7. Kate Elliott, Foothills Elementary School, (Salem, UT) – $3,000
8. Kimberly Gasaway, STEMM Academy, (Valparaiso, FL) – $5,000
9. Megan Heitkamp, Salk Middle School, (Elk River, MN) – $3,000
10. Beth Kenna, Cedarbrook Middle School, (Wyncote, PA) – $5,000
11. Joseph King, Challenge School, (Denver, CO) – $5,000
12. Deborah Kletch, Fishers Junior High School, (Fishers, IN) – $5,000
13. Denise Kratz, Explorers Homeschool Association, (Ann Arbor, MI) – $4,000
14. Christal Long, From the Heart Christian School, (Suitland, MD) – $5,000
15. Carole McKee, Northern Lights ABC, (Anchorage, AK) – $5,000
16. Patricia Mosey, Eagle Ridge Middle School, (Savage, MN) – $1,000
17. Lucia Perez, Jose Marti MAST 6-12 Academy, (Hialeah, FL) -$5,000
18. Megan Sabin, Algona Middle School, (Algona, IA) – $3,000
19. Jonathan Sailer, Schroeder Middle School, (Grand Forks, ND) – $5,000
20. Ebubekir Sen, Sonoran Science Academy, (Tucson, AZ) – $5,000
21. Melissa Sleeper, Gifford Middle School, (Vero Beach, FL) – $5,000
22. Setefano Umaga, Afonotele Elementary School, (Pago Pago, American Samoa) – $4,000
23. Laura Wilbanks, Southcrest School, (Lubbock, TX) – $4,000
24. Tammy Will, Morrison Public School, (Morrison, OK) – $5,000

The STEM Research Grant Program is supported, in part, through funding provided by Regeneron.