Challenger Center and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) announce Jenn Donais, Sarah Leonard, and Darryl Newhouse as the winners of the 2024 Trailblazing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Educator Award. Each teacher and their respective schools will be awarded $5,000. Additionally, each teacher will receive free access to Challenger Center STEM programming, a trip to Washington, D., to be honored at the 2024 AIAA Awards Gala, and an invitation to attend a future space launch experience
, to be honored at the 2024 AIAA Awards Gala, and an invitation to attend a future space launch experience
Three Trailblazing STEM Educators Named
In its third year, the award celebrates K-12 teachers who go above and beyond to inspire the next generation of explorers and innovators. The winners were selected from nearly 50 nominations. The nominations demonstrate the remarkable efforts teachers make every day to empower underserved and underrepresented students in STEM while using unique strategies, tools, and lessons in and out of the classroom to further energize students.
In its third year, the award celebrates K-12 teachers who go above and beyond to inspire the next generation of explorers and innovators. The winners were selected from nearly 50 nominations. The nominations demonstrate the remarkable efforts teachers make every day to empower underserved and underrepresented students in STEM while using unique strategies, tools, and lessons in and out of the classroom to further energize students.
The 2024 Trailblazing STEM Educator Award recipients are:
Jenn Donais, STEM Coach at Amesbury Middle School, Amesbury, Mass.
Sarah Leonard, Career and Technical Education Department Lead at Redding Middle School, Middletown, Del.
Darryl Newhouse, Engineering, Design, Mathematics, and Robotics Teacher at Foshay Learning Center, Los Angeles, Calif.
"We are thrilled to award Jenn, Sarah, and Darryl with the 2024 Trailblazing STEM Educator Award. Not only do these educators create equitable STEM learning environments for students of all backgrounds, but they provide opportunities for their students to experience real-life STEM careers, opening the possibilities for their futures," said Lance Bush, President and CEO, Challenger Center. "With educators like them, we are preparing an inspired and capable STEM workforce of tomorrow."
The U.S. aerospace and defense industry leads the world in innovation, while still facing challenges of staffing a properly skilled and qualified workforce. Crucial gaps in diversity, equity, and inclusion must be addressed – more STEM-literate graduates are needed, greater participation is needed by women and ethnic minorities, and early retirements are creating a growing knowledge gap.

Source prnewswire