STEM Excellence Award Recipients
The TSIN STEM Excellence Awards Recipients
Tennessee’s recent successes in STEM are due to the combined efforts of strong teachers in the classroom, innovative school and district/regional leaders, and advocates that place STEM on the top of their priority lists. The STEM Excellence Awards are designed to recognize a phenomenal teacher, a leader of a school, district, or regional/state organization, and an exceptional advocate for STEM education. Award recipients are recognized at the annual Tennessee STEM Innovation Summit held every spring.
Applications for the 2025 STEM Excellence Awards are now closed.
The STEM Excellence Awards are designed to:
Promote effective teaching strategies by recognizing and rewarding quality STEM teachers.
Highlight effective advocacy partnerships at the local and state levels.
Share strategies for creating an innovative STEM culture within a school building/district/region.
Interested in Nominating Someone?
2024 STEM Excellence Award Winners
Excellence in STEM Teaching
Emily Ann McDonald
Mathematics Teacher
University High
Chattanooga, TN
Excellence in STEM Leadership
Ben Bruce
District STEM Coordinator
Sumner County Schools
Gallatin, TN
Excellence in STEM Leadership
Dr. Renee Meeks
Principal
Sea Isle Elementary School
Memphis, TN
Excellence in STEM Advocacy
Dr. Dedric McGhee
STEM Director
Memphis-Shelby County Schools
Memphis, TN
Excellence in STEM Innovation
Dr. Catherine Jones
Principal
Prescott Elementary School
Cookeville, TN
2023 Computer Science Excellence Award Winners
Excellence in Computer Science
Shelby Woods
Computer Science Teacher
Sevier County Junior High School
Sevier County Schools
Excellence in Computer Science
Dr. Teresa Wise
Computer Technology Teacher
Thurman Francis Arts Academy
Rutherford County Schools
2023 STEM Excellence Award Winners
Excellence in STEM Teaching
Mendi Catlett
STEM Teacher
Ooltewah Elementary School
Ooltewah, TN
Excellence in STEM Leadership
Dr. Michael Ford
Principal
Randolph Howell Elementary STEM School
Columbia, TN
Excellence in STEM Advocacy
Dr. Brittany Mosby
Director of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Success
Nashville, TN
Excellence in STEM Innovation
Dr. Melissa Collins
Second Grade Teacher
John P. Freeman Optional School
Memphis, TN
2022 STEM Excellence Award Winners
Excellence in STEM Teaching
Latisha King
STEM & Science Teacher
Arlington Middle School School
Arlington, TN
Excellence in STEM Leadership
Jessica Holloway
Innovation Coach
Hamilton County Schools
Chattanooga, TN
Excellence in STEM Advocacy
Dr. Judith Iriarte-Gross
Chemistry Professor & Director of Women in STEM Center
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN
Excellence in STEM Innovation
Carlos Galindo
Outreach Coordinator
Millard Oakley STEM Center
Cookeville, TN
2021 STEM Excellence Award Winners
Excellence in STEM Teaching
Ben Di'Chiara
STEM Teacher
Peabody High School
Trenton, TN
Excellence in STEM Leadership
Dr. Hans Ballew
Principal
Northview Primary
Kodak, TN
Excellence in STEM Advocacy
Dr. Lynn Hodge
Director East TN STEM Hub & College of Education, Health, & Human Sciences: Theory & Practice in Teacher Education
The University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN
Excellence in STEM Innovation
R.
Keith Booker
STEM and CTE Lead
T-STEM Academy at East High School
Memphis, TN
2020 STEM Excellence Award Winners
Excellence in STEM Teaching
Nikki Russell
STEM Teacher
Orchard Knob Elementary School
Chattanooga, TN
Excellence in STEM Leadership
Tommy Elliott
Principal
Whitehaven Elementary School
Memphis, TN
Excellence in STEM Advocacy
Candice Halbert
Founder, Yo-STEM
Youth Outreach in STEM
Oak Ridge, TN
Excellence in STEM Innovation
Dan Caldwell
Senior Manager
Learning Pathways at Nissan
Smyrna, TN
2019 STEM Excellence Award Winners
Excellence in STEM Teaching
Amy Fricks
STEAM Teacher
DeKalb County High School
Smithville, TN
Excellence in STEM Leadership
Don Bartch
Principal
Overall Creek Elementary School
Murfreesboro, TN
Excellence in STEM Advocacy
Dr. Stephanie Ivey
West TN STEM Hub Director
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN
Excellence in STEM Innovation
Becky Ashe
Principal
L&N STEM Academy
Knoxville, TN
2018 STEM Excellence Award Winners
Excellence in STEM Teaching
Sharon Clark
4-5 Grades STEM Teacher
East Side Intermediate School
Brownsville, TN
Excellence in STEM Leadership
Erin Thurston
STEM Coordinator
Jack Anderson Elementary School
Hendersonville, TN
Excellence in STEM Advocacy
Billy Hix
Professor Emeritus
Motlow State Community College
Smyrna, TN
Excellence in STEM Innovation
Tony Donen
Principal
STEM School Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
2017 STEM Excellence Award Winners
Excellence in STEM Teaching
Christa Phillips
STEM Teacher
Houston High School
Germantown, TN
Excellence in STEM Leadership
Dr. BJ Worthington
Director of Schools
Clarksville-Montgomery County
Clarksville, TN
Excellence in STEM Advocacy
Dr. Stacy Klein-Gardner
Director of the Center for STEM Education for Girls
Harpeth Hall,
Nashville, TN
Excellence in STEM Innovation
Keri Randolph
Director of Innovation
Hamilton County Department of Education
Chattanooga, TN
FAQS
When are nominations open?
Applications for the 2025 STEM Excellence Awards are now closed.
Where and when is the ceremony held?
Awards are typically given at the TN STEM Innovation Summit. 2022 Excellence Awards announcements will be made in May 2022.
Who can I nominate?
You may nominate a colleague or yourself.
How do I nominate someone?
Select the 'Learn More' button above and fill out the application for the award you are interested in. When finished, submit the completed application.
Copyright 2020, Tennessee STEM Innovation Network, Battelle Education