Battelle Awards Honor Ohio Educators Advancing STEM Education

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Ohio STEM Learning Network today unveiled the four winners of the “STEM Excellence Awards.” These awards recognize outstanding teachers, school leaders, and education advocates who advance quality science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education in Ohio. Awardees were recognized at the third annual Ohio STEM Innovation Summit. This statewide conference helps Ohio schools and educators expand STEM education to foster Ohio’s future workforce.

Battelle manages the Ohio STEM Learning Network as a public-private partnership with the state of Ohio, as part of the company’s commitment to preparing the next generation of innovators.

“Quality STEM education in our state will foster the next generation of Ohio innovators,” said Kelly Gaier Evans, Director of the Ohio STEM Learning Network for Battelle. “Each of the individuals and organizations honored tonight has gone above and beyond in their dedication toward creating pathways to success for students.”

This year, the Ohio STEM Learning Network awarded the following:

Excellence in STEM Teaching Award

The Excellence in STEM Teaching Award recognizes a teacher who exemplifies integrated, STEM-infused teaching strategies and classroom innovation, and whose work has led to positive student learning outcomes.

Rachel Sanders is a Bio Research Instructor for 11th Grade Science at Global Impact STEM Academy in Springfield, Ohio

Sanders enriches her curriculum with biotechnology and partners with local businesses to offer students real-world experiences. In her biotechnology lab, students work in professional-style stations, mimicking job settings and engaging in interdisciplinary projects like creating stained-glass-inspired plastics from bioplastics in collaboration with the art department. Her dedication extends beyond the classroom. Annually, Sanders hosts the AgBio Tech Academy for other educators, organizes Women in STEM events, and provides opportunities for students to interact with authentic audiences through STEM Fairs and community service projects, ensuring all students engage with real-world challenges.

Excellence in STEM Leadership Award

The Excellence in STEM Leadership Award recognizes a school-level, district, or regional leader with a proven track record of developing effective STEM programs.

Chavin Lewis is Principal of Thurgood Marshall STEM High School in Dayton, Ohio.

Lewis builds connections to STEM through a culturally relevant learning environment at her school. Through her leadership, all students engage with the Design Thinking Process. Lewis fosters collaboration through weekly Professional Learning Community meetings and models effective STEM teaching during professional development days. To foster interdisciplinary planning, she reworked the school’s schedule and hired a STEM Coordinator. Lewis brought new courses and career pathways to Thurgood Marshall including cybersecurity, manufacturing engineering, and medical technology.

Excellence in STEM Partnership Award

The Excellence in STEM Partnership Award recognizes an established partnership that prioritizes a commitment to STEM education. Partners may include industry, higher education, community partners, or a partnership within the arts.

This year, the Ohio STEM Learning Network honors the partnership between the Cleveland Museum of Art and Incarnate Word Academy in Parma Heights, Ohio.

The Cleveland Museum of Art collaborates with Incarnate Word Academy to integrate arts across the curriculum, enhancing STEAM education through professional development and shared learning experiences. This partnership fosters a unified vision of "STEAM for all," engaging students with real-world applications of art and STEM. Students explore diverse careers in the art world, interacting with museum professionals. Elementary students complete problem-based learning units on topics like stewardship and landfills while older students explore concepts of identity. The partnership extends beyond the classroom, offering experiences at the museum including Parade the Circle.

Outstanding Service Award

The Outstanding Service Award honors one individual each year who goes above and beyond their role to advance access to quality STEM education for all Ohio students.

Sam Crews is the Director of the Akron Hub of the Ohio STEM Learning Network, based out of Akron Public Schools.

For over a decade, Crews has led the Akron Hub, where he has been instrumental in supporting school leaders and educators on their journey to achieving schoolwide STEM implementation, fostering a diverse array of new STEM schools along the way. He has personally led the expansion of new STEM education professional development programs for local educators. A tireless advocate, Crews has built a community of collaborators working together to ensure that all students, regardless of background, have access to transformative STEM learning experiences.

About the Ohio STEM Learning Network

The Ohio STEM Learning Network is committed to helping the State of Ohio inspire and train the next generation of innovative leaders. The network operates as a public-private partnership between the State of Ohio and Battelle.

About Battelle

Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries. For more information, visit www.battelle.org.