Educator Awards

Wyoming Department of Education > For Teachers > Recognition > Educator Awards

WDE Educator Awards:

K-12 Digital Learning Awards

The K-12 Digital Learning Innovations Awards were created to honor leaders and educators to create cultures of innovation and forward-thinking through effective uses of digital, 21st century technologies to engage students while empowering them in owning their learning. 

Digital Learning Awards

The Digital Learning Innovations Award is an acknowledgement of educators utilizing new and innovative ways to incorporate digital learning into their work. Please consider nominating outstanding candidates for one of the following four categories:

  • Student Voices (Students and teachers working together)
  • Education Leader (Teacher, media specialists/librarian, principal, or other school-based educators)
  • District Leader (Superintendents, Tech Directors, or anyone providing services across the district)
  • Program Leaders (Legislators, teacher association members, education committees, industry, or anyone providing services outside of a school district)

2021 K-12 Digital Learning Awards

Student Voices – Darian Samuelson, Weston #7

At times in education, students are required to take specific classes to meet graduation requirements that may not meet their needs for future endeavors. Teaching and enabling students to have a voice in what they believe will most benefit them is something that high school science Darian Samuelson does very well.  She encourages students to think about their interests and find ways to move in the direction that illuminates their passions.  When one student expressed an interest in working for NASA, Darian worked with her to design an astronomy class. The student was able to secure a spot in a summer program at Rice University to further her studies.  When students wanted to know more about forensic science, she offered that class including the opportunity to check fingerprints and explore the use of DNA. She works to make student experiences relatable and engaging. In her STEM class, students design their own projects based on their interests and the standards they have to meet.  Darian truly gives students the opportunity to embrace their education and help create innovation.

Education Leader – Janae Miller, Wyoming Virtual Academy

Janae Miller has built a virtual career academy that allows students from home in any part of the state to access career pathways and certifications that they might not otherwise have access to due to work, travel, or other restrictions. The WYVA Destinations Career Academy has opened the door for Wyoming students to pursue career paths during high school. We believe this is the first statewide online option of its kind for Wyoming high school students. Mrs. Miller has created an entirely new form of career pathway education in Wyoming with her Destinations Career Academy with Live Instructors, local business partnerships for each student, and a full online curriculum across a variety of pathways. Students in Wyoming can now access career pathways in high school virtually.

District Leader – Ryan Gonzalez, Platte #1

Ryan Gonzalez is the Technology Director for #onePlatte1 and our district has the unique demographic of serving three vastly differing communities. During the Pandemic and this school year, Mr. Gonzalez worked tirelessly to provide for the technology needs of our district. He was instrumental in finding whatever was needed to execute the amazing ideas that our teachers had in the area of remote learning, distance education, and CBVE. One example was providing the necessary equipment and training for teachers to continue to instruct WITHIN their classroom through a digital presence. We had teachers that were out on quarantine time periods and he found a way for teachers to still interact with their students and provide high-quality instruction. The reverse was also true when students were out of the classroom as they were able to stream in and students ‘adopted’ the virtual student to ensure they were not forgotten or left out of the class. This out-of-the-box thinking really showed his talent and vision to support high-quality teaching and learning. Our technology advancements have allowed for students to demonstrate their understanding of various topics by customizing their end products to show what they know. They have the creative license to do what they need to meet the established standard of learning. This choice and ownership is critical to the educational growth of our students and Ryan has been with us every step of the way.

State Leader – David Stokowski, Canvas Adoption Consultant

David Stokowski is the Canvas Adoption Consultant for Wyoming. David was instrumental in helping districts move to virtual or hybrid learning across Wyoming during the COVID-19 pandemic. Davis was able to jump right in and provide training to teachers on how to move their courses into a virtual environment, with tips and tricks to do so successfully. David also supported the administration as they learned to navigate the virtual learning space. David went above and beyond his typical Adoption Consultant duties by also providing additional technical support to administration and teachers. David was also extremely effective in helping elementary teachers adapt to their new Canvas courses. He is continuing to help educators utilize best practices for using online and hybrid courses even with heading back into the physical classroom. 

Back to Top

2020 Award Winners

Student Voices –  Erika Quick and the Cody Broadcast Journalism Students

The Broadcast Journalism program at Cody High School has been student-led for twenty years. The students are the voice of the school and they inform their student body on what is going on. Their stories often transcend past the student-body and into our community. As their advisor, Ms. Quick pushes them to ask the tough questions. She always warns the students that some stories may lead them into the unknown. It may challenge them to arrive in a place they did not expect. That is what journalism is, the pursuit of what’s true, even if it makes you uncomfortable or doesn’t fit within the walls of your normalcy.  Through COVID the students captured their experiences through a series of photos to try and convey how the pandemic has impacted them.

Back to Top

Education Leader – Krista Sweckard, Johnson #1

Krista Sweckard PhotoKrista is a prime example of an innovative teacher in all she does in her classes from the elementary school to the high school. She is always striving and searching for effective approaches to help her students learn through engaging lessons and units. Krista has a unique position in her district. She teaches computer science and technology classes at the high school half time and spends the afternoon at an elementary school teaching classes with elementary teachers using lessons she develops to assist teachers to integrate technology in their lessons. In the elementary school she learns about the units or lessons they are teaching and then develops lessons she models and teaches with the classroom teacher to the students. In her high school classes she integrates hands-on activities and designs her lessons beyond the format of most classes. Krista is the most dedicated and innovative teacher committed to changing the classroom to prepare and empower her students and colleagues for the future.

Back to Top

District Leader – Dr. Joe Heywood, WYVA

Dr. Joe Heywood photoDr. Joe Heywood is the Head of School and K-8 Principal of the Wyoming Virtual Academy (WYVA) for the last 3 years. During this time, he recognized the need to improve the Social-Emotional component for students online and how valuable it is for student’s to feel connected, especially in a virtual setting. To do this he has created a library of virtual field trips for students and has instituted the first online Junior National Honors Society and Student Council for grades 7-8.  He created a series of virtual field trips that can be accessed by students online to bring different parts of Wyoming to them, at home. He has also used videos to create welcome messages to help build a sense of connection. There is usually an educational component as well to these videos and are geared for all students K-12.

Back to Top

State Leader – SSG David Pulsipher, WY Army National Guard

David Pulsipher PhotoSSG David Pulsipher faced COVID-19 head on by helping to teach several classes for Wyoming High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) Program through Western Wyoming Community College by assisting students that had endured an unprecedented end to their in person classes.  Pulsipher Instructed classes via Zoom on Career Development and Life Skills courses.  The classes reached students in Rock Springs, Big Piney, Bridger Valley, Pinedale, Kemmerer, Green River, and Star Valley. Education is one of the most revered freedoms of every society.  SSG Pulsipher’s ability to overcome and adapt in such a short period as well as assist with one of the most critical aspects of the American way of life is a testament to his professionalism and commitment to the betterment of human potential. 

Back to Top

State Leader –  SFC Jeffrey Blascyk  , WY Army National Guard

Jeffrey Blascyk PhotoSFC Jeffrey Blascyk took digital learning to a new level by creating a resiliency video series for the Sheridan SCOPE program. In Tongue River he conducted a virtual workout series with an accountability piece to encourage students to work out and maintain a healthy lifestyle. SFC Blascyk also conducted a goal setting video series for multiple English classes in Sheridan High School in conjunction with their reading of the Alchemist to promote realistic goal setting. He did two videos, one on military equipment and the uniform for those who took the ASVAB.  In addition, SFC Blascyk also had a bunch of education centered videos posted on Facebook for the students in the areas of physical fitness, how to apply social distancing, additional military equipment videos and benefits videos.

Back to Top

2019 Award Winners

Student Voices – Tony Olson, Fremont County School District #24

Tony Olson PhotoTony is the Technology Coordinator and Instructor in Fremont County School District #24. Tony has truly helped transform the digital landscape in Wyoming by starting the Code Wranglers program.  The Shoshoni CodeWranglers program is all about turning students into skilled professionals able to create and innovate. Tools are only as good as the craftsman behind the tools.  

Teaching students to effectively utilize the resources and tools they have access to is essential for maximum productivity and CodeWranglers is all about making craftsmen and craftswomen for the future.  Helping students obtain effective research, engineering, and problem solving skills are trademarks of the CodeWranglers program making it unique and innovative. The program continues to grow and will soon include elementary students. 

Tony was selected for the Student Voices award for his work through allowing student voices to be heard. The Shoshoni Code Wranglers program has given his students an avenue to shine. The Code Wranglers were here with us last year and last night at the Innovations Showcase. Tony supports his students as they present their knowledge in computer science.  You can see and hear the excitement in his students’ voices as they talk about their experiences with learning technology in Tony’s classroom. 

Back to Top

Education Leader – Karla Ludemann, Weston County School District #7
Karla Ludemann Photo

Karla is a Computer Science and Business Teacher at Upton High School in Weston County School District #7. She has been selected for this award because of her work of opening up her classes for her students to experience a blend of online and face-to-face experiences. Whether that be in programming, computer hardware, robotics, egaming, or video editing, Karla has opened up opportunities for all of her students.  SPED students who sometimes struggle have found a place where they can feel successful in working with technology – whether it is robotics or egaming. 

Back to Top

District Leader – Frankie Medlen, Weston County School District #7
Frankie Medlen Photo

Frankie is the Technology Director for Weston County School District #7. Her work and willingness supports personalized learning throughout the district. Frankie also remove barriers along the way, she is flexible to the needs of educators and forward thinking–always helping to propel the district in new directions.

Frankie has been instrumental in the development of Weston #7’s personalized learning initiative where the focus is student driven, future facing. Without someone like Frankie, who not only understands technology, but who also understands what teachers are working to accomplish in their classrooms, it would be difficult for the district to continue to move forward. Frankie is open to what teachers need and often offers new ideas to make things work more smoothly in the schools.

Back to Top

State Leader – Don Day, Jr., Day Weather

Don Day, Jr. Photo

Don is a meteorologist at Day Weather. He seized an opportunity to develop and support STEAM education by developing a program, “Iter ad Astra” (“A Road to the Stars”) to have junior high science students in Laramie County design, construct, launch, and recover a high altitude balloon system. His project has brought together curricula from various departments within the junior high school as well as community volunteers from various disciplines to engage with students who learn through hands-on development and experimental activities. Together students build, launch, and recover a “flying satellite.”

“A Road to the Stars” was the brainchild and the passion of Don. He not only designed the program, but has introduced and offered to lead this new program to the schools in Laramie County. Financial requirements of the program are minimal, and with the initial Microsoft grant should be sufficient to fund the program for five-eight years. Don has brought  together support from Rotary members, a former NASA employee, programming specialists, and others in the community – volunteering their time and their expertise to support STEAM education in both school districts in Laramie County. Don and this program, exemplify how communities and professionals can and should be involved in and support STEAM education.

Back to Top

2018 Award Winners

Innovative Classroom Leader – Charlie Richardson, Laramie County School District #1

Charlie Richardson portraitCharlie Richardson is a science teacher who works with at-risk students to help students overcome their stories in the hopes of guiding them to their greatest happiness.

Charlie has worked with the at-risk population as both a paraprofessional at the elementary level as well as a high school science teacher. This is Charlie’s sixth year of teaching, four of those years have been at Triumph High School in Cheyenne. His teaching is continually evolving and he is always looking to improve his classroom and “teach to the edges”, in hopes of challenging students who need more while providing additional support for students who need it. He is a firm believer in acknowledging each student as a human being and that school isn’t always the most important aspect in a student’s life.

Back to Top

Education Leader – Stacey Dickson, Campbell County School District #1

Stacey Dickson portrait Stacey Dickson is a Google Certified Educator who has taught in Campbell County School District #1 for 15 years. Stacey strives to share her passion for technology integration with her students and colleagues. She believes in using technology as a tool to transform learning, empower students and inspire teachers to be co-designers in the learning process.

Her passion for technology integration became evident when she won a grant to become a 1:1 iPad classroom in 2014. While working with her students, Stacey noticed a path of digital learning that was opening new doors for her students. She started an after school Tech Club where students spent an hour exploring their digital passions from coding to stop motion videos. She quickly learned she had to be a digital learner along with her students.

Back to Top

District Leader – R.J. Kost, Retired Park County School District #1

R.J. Kost Portrait R.J. Kost started out in Basin, Wyoming, graduating from high school in 1971. I received a double major  (Mathematics and Physical Education/Health) at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana in 1975.

R.J.’s career started in Dubois, Wyoming teaching Math to students from 7th through 12th grade.  He made the statement that in 5 years he would probably look to another job but as the years moved forward he fell in love with the profession and the students he had the  wonderful opportunity to work with every day.

The Apple computer came along and caught R.J’s interest. He was fortunate enough to take a huge computer down to Laramie for a course in computer programming in Basic. Making geometric shapes and developing instructional strategies as he learned more was habit forming and he found he could get lost in time working on the challenges.

Back to Top

State Leader – Dennis Ellis, Microsoft

Dennis Ellis Portrait Dennis recently joined the Microsoft TechSpark initiative as the Cheyenne, WY Community Engagement Manager. He came to Microsoft from a public relations firm he
founded, Ellis Public Affairs, where he consulted for clients such as Wal-Mart, Google, Denver Children’s Hospital, Johnson & Johnson and Anadarko.

Prior to his return to Wyoming, Dennis served as Deputy Attorney General for External Affairs in the Colorado Attorney General’s Office and in Governor Bill Owens’ cabinet as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the organization tasked with protecting the environment and public health of Colorado. Ellis also served as Legislative Director and Counsel for United States Representative Barbara Cubin (R-WY).

Back to Top

2017 Award Winners

2017 Digital Learning Award Winners with Jillian Balow, Superintendent of Public InstructionTighe Fagen (accepting on behalf of Erin Moore), Cameron Kukuchka, Superintendent Balow, and Julie Weitz at the 2017 Wyoming Innovations in Learning conference. 

Education Leader – Julie Weitz, Sheridan Junior High School

Julie Weitz is a true innovator in digital learning. As the Librarian and Media Specialist at Sheridan Junior High School (SJHS), Julie has led efforts to transform her library and its services to maintain relevance and establish itself as the school’s learning nerve center. Julie and her team were instrumental in rolling out 1:1 Chromebooks at SJHS. Since the seamless rollout several years ago, Julie and her team provided ongoing support, teacher training, repair, and leadership to keep the 1:1 program strong. With the dawn of 1:1 in her school, the computer labs that Julie maintained for years went by the wayside. Instead of becoming irrelevant, Julie revisioned the labs and created the SJHS Einstein Lab, a high-tech makerspace available to all students and teachers in the school. This makerspace is now the heart and soul of a strong after school program, where students create and tinker in a variety of technology-rich courses. 

Back to Top

District Leader – Cameron Kukuchka, Johnson County School District #1

Cameron Kukuchka joined the Johnson County School District #1 team in July, 2015. Several days after he began, JCSD #1’s server hut experienced a catastrophic failure. Cameron immediately took charge and restored the district’s technology infrastructure: networks, servers, user accounts, etc. Cameron continued to put out fires and stabilize the district for some months after and could easily have made it his sole focus. Instead, Cameron immersed himself in both the administrative and instructional aspects of IT. 

Cameron significantly impacted the lives of five high school students. Paid internships were created from an idea generated by Cameron. The five selected students were identified using a rigorous interview process. They worked diligently and learned the nuts and bolts of Chromebooks, iPads, PCs, and networking. Some even learned to configure servers. All were provided with invaluable life skills such as teamwork, problem solving, responsibility, accountability and strong work ethic.

Back to Top

Program Leader – Erin Moore, Gannett Peak Technical Services

Erin Moore, from Gannett Peak Technical Services, is an incredible and valuable partner with the Wyoming Department of Education in developing the Coders of the West program by advocating and advancing student learning in computer science and giving students an avenue to connect learning in computer science through internships. This program she designed began with 11 students from two school districts completing internships with two industry partners. This pilot is expanding in the 2017-18 school year, now in its second year, and is currently involving at least 8 industry partners in 5 different communities. As a part of this expansion, Erin is bringing together partners from both industry and schools to develop a semester long online computer science course designed to teach content industry needs while keeping students engaged and energized about computer science. Students will then take this learning and apply it to a variety of different fields within computer science.  

Back to Top

Milken Educator Awards

The Milken Educator Awards alternate yearly between elementary and secondary educators. Unlike most teacher recognition programs, the Milken Educator Award is completely unique: Educators cannot apply for this recognition and do not even know they are under consideration. Candidates are sourced through a confidential selection process and then are reviewed by Blue Ribbon Panels appointed by state departments of education. Those most exceptional are recommended for the Award, with final approval by the Milken Family Foundation.

For more information about the Milken Educator Awards,  visit www.MilkenEducatorAwards.org or call MFF at (310) 570-4772.

2019 – Brian Cox, Cheyenne

Principal Brian Cox always puts students first at Johnson Junior High School in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Using the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) framework, which Cox researched, advocated for and implemented at Johnson, students focus not only on taking tests but on leadership skills. AVID helps Cox and his staff guide students who need extra support toward academic success. When Cox talks with students, he asks them how they picture their lives in 20 years—home, job, family—and then works backward to help them connect those dreams to studying hard and getting good grades. Cox often reminds teachers that students are not little adults, and that teaching the whole child means understanding not just what is happening, but why. When a student acted out at school, Cox worked to gain the student’s trust and learned that the child felt unsafe at home after someone pushed in the family’s front door. Cox bought a new door from the lumber yard, went to the house and installed it himself.

Cox leads a staff of 100, challenging Johnson’s educators daily to consider what they can do to make a positive impact on the seventh- and eighth-graders they teach. Cox personalizes professional development for each teacher, seeking resources to address the specific skills and challenges they want to address. A former science teacher and assistant principal, Cox pores over student data. Convinced that cell phones at school have a negative effect on student learning, he brought students, families and the community together, made his case, and led the effort to remove them from campus. Cox sits on the board of the Wyoming Association of Secondary School Principals and has lobbied Congress for Title I funding in Washington, D.C. He has mentored many new principals and worked with the Laramie and Uinta County school districts to develop a comparative salary schedule matrix for rural schools.

Read More About Brian Cox

Brian Cox is awarded a $25,000 from the Milken Family Foundation
Brian Cox is presented a check for $25,000

Many of Johnson’s students experience challenges at home, just as Cox did growing up. Empathy is a core value for Cox: When a racially charged incident happened at another middle school in the district, Cox stepped up to organize the district’s first youth equality symposium, a weeklong event that led to several ongoing tolerance and diversity initiatives. An avid runner who has done several 100+-mile ultra-marathons, Cox sits on the board of the local Boys & Girls Club and raises money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He has helped students organize clothing drives for classmates who need winter coats and worked with another student to plan a dance to raise money for the community. Cox has developed anti-bullying programs and added restorative justice to the school’s discipline matrix.

Cox earned a bachelor’s in biology and chemistry in 2002 from the University of Wyoming and a master’s in curriculum and instruction in 2006 from the University of Colorado. He is pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership.

Back to Top

2018 – Chris Bessonette, Jackson

The dual immersion program at Munger Mountain Elementary School in Jackson, Wyoming, is growing—in large part due to second-grade teacher Chris Bessonette. When the district board of education was deliberating the expansion of the program, they turned to Bessonette as an expert to help guide their decisions. Bessonette, an English-language teacher paired with a Spanish-language partner, serves on the school’s ELA committee, dual immersion leadership committee and building leadership team, and he has participated in research studies to enhance the district’s dual immersion programming. Bessonette provided the board with data and input to show that the dual immersion program has been a positive option for all learners. In the fall of 2018, the district opened the first dual immersion elementary school in the state.

Read More About Chris Bessonette

Chris Bessonette is awarded a $25,000 from the Milken Family Foundation
Chris Bessonette is presented a check for $25,000

Bessonette’s passion for supporting English language learners (ELLs) shines at Munger Mountain Elementary, in both second grade and his former role teaching kindergarten. He focuses on vocabulary development, a skill critical to his dual immersion students’ academic success. During a “maker’s market,” Bessonette’s second-graders created a service, then explain why they chose it and who would be interested in it. The business unit introduced concepts like marketing, advertising, and supply and demand, in addition to helping them develop the language needed to describe their work. Bessonette led a collaborative effort with the University of Wyoming to pilot a new vocabulary initiative across the district’s second-grade dual-immersion classes, bringing together a cohort of educators across two buildings. His students are thriving: On state assessments, they showed 20% growth from winter to spring. When he taught kindergarten, 85% of his students were reading on grade level by the end of the year.

Known for his contagious positive attitude, Bessonette mentors teaching partners, leads professional development, participates in a professional learning community with other second-grade dual immersion educators, and helps build units for language and math at the district level. He and another teacher participated in a panel discussion on improving students’ vocabulary with a professor from a local university. He has presented at a state ELL conference in Jackson Hole and led sessions for 400 teachers at a district conference. Bessonette understands the challenges of his immigrant students’ families and advocates for them relentlessly, tutoring, attending soccer games and concerts, learning Spanish to improve his ability to communicate, and connecting families with community resources. In dual immersion, students learn leadership skills, grit, perseverance and the importance of supporting each other alongside academics. Bessonette works hard to embed sociocultural competence in every lesson.

Bessonette earned a bachelor’s in elementary education from Graceland University in 1998 and a master’s in curriculum and instruction from the University of Wyoming in 2011.

Back to Top

2017 – Shannon Hill, Thermopolis

It was the surprise of a lifetime, when Shannon Hill was presented with a prestigious Milken Educator Award by Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow and Milken Family Foundation Senior Program Administrator Greg Gallagher.  Hill is Thermopolis Middle School’s seventh- and eight-grade Health and Physical Education teacher. Hill’s dedication to her students is one of the many reasons that Hill was selected for this award.

Hill stated after learning that she had earned the Milken Educator Award, “I am completely humbled and overwhelmed. I was not expecting it at all and I just can’t wrap my head around it right now. I absolutely love what I do and I show up every day loving what I do, not thinking about awards, not working towards anything specific, just teaching the kids. I love the kids that I work with every day.

Milken Educators are selected in early to mid-career for what they have achieved and for the promise of what they will accomplish. In addition to the $25,000 prize and public recognition, Hill’s honor includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 2,700 top teachers, principals and specialists dedicated to strengthening education.

Read More About Shannon Hill

Shannon Hill is presented a check for $25,000.

Shannon Hill believes and demonstrates that physical health improves classroom performance. But kids will tell you they’re just having fun. In student climate surveys, they have rated her class as their second favorite part of school for two years in a row. And that’s no surprise. They enjoy 45 minutes of adventure every day as they swim, hike, bike, canoe, and even try archery.

Hill redesigned the Physical Education classes to promote safety and improve physical and mental health. She has presented its success during state and national conferences, including the National School Board Conference in March 2017. As students have become more active, math and reading scores at Thermopolis Middle School have steadily climbed. Five out of nine core areas at the school ranked top 10% in the state, and administrators credit this to the positive culture Hill has helped create.

Her PE model teaches kids skills they can use for a lifetime and maximizes various activities available in small towns that get students outside and on the go. Hill incorporates cross-curricular concepts, supporting math and literacy standards, within her physical education and health classes. Hill arranged to purchase 40 bikes so students could ride during class. Besides promoting health and fitness, the bike rides serve other educational purposes as well. The students bike to the grocery store (1 mile each way) and purchase fresh foods. The next day they learn how to cook healthy meals in class and use their math skills to calculate nutrition values. For mental stability, Hill engages students through lessons and surveys to improve self-perception and body image, stand up to peer pressure and avoid the pitfalls of drugs and alcohol. As an end-of-year treat for 8th graders, Hill sponsors an overnight camping trip. The trip has to be earned and students must keep their behavior in check to not jeopardize their standing.

Hill mentors new teachers on building strong student relationships and effective classroom management, and partakes in school duties beyond the classroom. She is the student-council advisor and an active member of the Bobcat Booster club raising funds for school activities. Hill also supports the high school as the head varsity girls’ volleyball coach, and hosts open gyms for other athletes to work out during practice. Active and visible throughout Hot Springs County, Hill has also changed the community. She coordinates the Ready, Set, Run program to get kids running and the annual Running with the Buffalo race, while her PE methods have extended to the high school. She hosts Challenge Days to teach at-risk students how to self-reflect and make better choices, and volunteers with students and community members to deliver Meals on Wheels on Sundays.

Hill earned her Bachelor of Arts in Health and Human Performance/Exercise Science in 2009 and her Master of Education in 2012, both from the University of Montana.

More information about Hill, plus links to photos and a video from today’s assembly, can be found on the Milken Educator Awards website.

Back to Top

STEM Educator Awards

The STEM Educator of the Year Award recognizes educators who are exemplars in the integration of hands-on, minds-on experiential learning opportunities in their classrooms.  These educators incorporate the applied integration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics into their everyday teaching environments, and facilitate meaningful connections between what students are learning and the world of work.

2019 STEM Award Winners
  • Elementary – Shelby Randall – Park County School District #1
  • Secondary – Jessie Smith – Fremont County School District #24
  • Post-Secondary – Andrew Young – Casper College
2018 STEM Award Winners
    • Elementary – Heather Gibson
    • Secondary – Victoria Davis
    • Post-Secondary – Carla Hester-Croff
2017 STEM Award Winners
      • Elementary – Adrienne Unertl, K-5 STEM Educator, Clark Elementary School, Evanston
      • Secondary – Michael Power, Middle/High School Science Teacher, Meeteetse Schools
      • Post-Secondary – Jared Bowden, Physics/Astronomy Instructor, Casper College
2016 STEM Award Winners
      • Elementary – Christine Horsen, First Grade Teacher, Meeteetse Schools
      • Secondary – Teresa Strube, Middle School Science/Math Teacher, University of Wyoming Lab School
      • Post-Secondary – Dr. Edwin Bittner, Veterinary Technology Instructor, Eastern Wyoming College
2015 STEM Award Winners
      • Elementary – Abby Mowry, Teacher, Sagebrush Elementary School, Sheridan, WY
      • Secondary – Miken Harnish, Wheatland Middle School STEM Program, Wheatland, WY
      • Post-Secondary – Dr. Evert Brown, Science Professor, Casper Mountain Science School and Casper College

Back to Top