K-12 STEM Community Builder Award
The K-12 STEM Community Builder Award will recognize a metro Atlanta K-12 educator who is enriching the STEM/STEAM culture at their school. The winner will demonstrate leadership and excellence in implementing curricular/extracurricular activities, engaging under-represented students in STEM, increasing exposure to careers, and facilitating external partnerships to build a rich STEM community centered at the school.
One winner will be selected to receive a $1000 cash prize for personal use, and their school will receive an additional $1000 to support further STEM/STEAM initiatives. The winner will be an honored guest at Science ATL’s End of Year Celebration in May, and an award presentation will be scheduled for the fall at the awardee’s school.
Eligibility
Nominees must be teachers or staff members in a metro-Atlanta K-12 public school (including districts: Atlanta, Buford City, City of Decatur, Clayton, Cherokee, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Marietta City, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale). Nominations may be made by individuals or organizations. One nominator can nominate multiple candidates. Self-nominations are encouraged.
Selection Criteria
- Community Building – nominees must demonstrate how they are enriching the STEM/STEAM culture and fostering a STEM/STEAM community. This can include unique approaches to STEM, or school/community engagement projects (i.e. students doing citizen science, civic engagement or community service related to STEM, transformational partnership with business or university, etc.), or activities that engage students in addressing real, local problems, or in improving the world through science.
- Leadership – nominees must demonstrate how they are leading change at their school
- Equity – nominees must demonstrate how their activities are broadening access, inclusion, and sense of belonging in STEM among students from groups that are historically under-represented in STEM.
Application Instructions
Submit an online Nomination Form by April 9, 2023, including responses to the prompts below and 1-3 Letters of Support. The Form will ask nominees to respond to the following prompts (about 400 words each):
- How are you enriching the STEM/STEAM culture and fostering a STEM/STEAM community at your school? What evidence do you have that demonstrates this change?
- Describe how you, specifically, are leading this change at your school.
- How are your efforts increasing access and inclusion for students from groups that are underrepresented in STEM fields?
Letters of Support – Nominees should include at least one, but no more than three Letters of Support from colleagues, supervisors, community members, or students. The Letters may be attached to the Nomination Form, or submitted directly by the letter writers to [email protected] with the email subject Nominee Last Name, First Initial Letter of Support.