Overview
South Carolina faces two converging challenges for the future of its students and workforce: first, a critical shortage of public-school educators, particularly in STEM areas; and second, the changing nature of jobs requiring an advanced understanding of STEM content areas and the skills required to tackle complex problems. The state will need to significantly increase its number of STEM educators in order to meet the demands of an evolving economy.
SCCMS and its partners – SC Competes, The STEM Center at the Citadel, Comporium, Bojangles, and the SC Department of Commerce – are proud to launch the 6th annual STEM Educator of the Year Award. This award is for teachers who are making a significant difference in the lives of students across the state by providing excellent curriculum, encouraging lifelong learning and inspiring a passion for STEM beyond the classroom.
SCCMS and its partners – SC Competes, The STEM Center at the Citadel, Comporium, Bojangles, and the SC Department of Commerce – are proud to launch the 6th annual STEM Educator of the Year Award. This award is for teachers who are making a significant difference in the lives of students across the state by providing excellent curriculum, encouraging lifelong learning and inspiring a passion for STEM beyond the classroom.
How The Process Works
Anyone, including oneself, can nominate a deserving teacher. Once, nominated, the teacher is sent Phase 2, the application, and must answer all questions. The South Carolina STEM Teacher of the Year Committee then reviews all of the applications and selects five finalists, one from each of the 5 regions, who will interview with our selection panel. Once the interview process is complete, a winner is selected.
The nomination form will be open from October 31, 2023 – December 15, 2023. Nominated educators will be sent the application on or before December 18, 2023. Applications will be due no later than February 16th. Interviews with the finalists will be scheduled in early March 2024. A winner will be selected and announced at STEM Day at the Capitol, on April 10, 2024.
The winner will receive a check for $2,500. Each of the remaining four finalists will also receive monetary awards!
The winner will receive a check for $2,500. Each of the remaining four finalists will also receive monetary awards!
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Criteria
Eligibility
The next STEM Educator of the Year will demonstrate:
- Must be a full-time, active, certified classroom teacher.
- Must teach at a public or private K-12 school in South Carolina.
- Must spend the majority of the school day involved in direct instruction to students.
- Must show involvement and leadership in student-related extra-curricular activities.
- Must be teaching at least 3 years.
The next STEM Educator of the Year will demonstrate:
- Integrity – Be honest, trustworthy, reliable, and respected by students, parents, co-workers, and community members.
- Interpersonal Skills – Be able to exemplify a true passion for STEM education.
- Global Perspective – Be able to inspire students to see that STEM is all around us.
- Work Ethic – Be able to engage students in the classroom and prepare them for education and careers outside the classroom.
- Self-Direction – Be able to explain personal teaching philosophy and implement effective teaching strategies.
2023 Winner and Finalists
From Left to Right (Dr. Marsha Neal, Susan Mathews, Heather Mauldin, Tracey Elmore, Brenda Bouldin, Amy Baldwin, Dr. Tim Swick, Kirstin Bullington, Kayla Short)
The 2023 STEM Educator of the Year is Brenda Bouldin
Brenda Bouldin is the STEM Teacher at Blue Ridge Elementary School in Seneca, SC, and a Faculty Evaluator for Elementary Pedagogy at Western Governors University. At BRES, she has been in the STEM Lab for three years and spent the previous five years teaching fourth grade there. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2020 and has also served as an Elevator Lead Technology Teacher. Currently, she supports the garden program, apiary, and LEGO Club. She attended Western Governors University for her B.A. in Elementary Education, her M.A. in Mathematics Education, and M.Ed. in Learning and Technology. Originally from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, she enjoys traveling home and new places and spending time with her husband, Cory, two children, Joseph (10) and Savannah (4), and their four-legged children, Maggie and Apollo.
The 2023 SC STEM Educator of the Year Finalists:
Brenda Bouldin is the STEM Teacher at Blue Ridge Elementary School in Seneca, SC, and a Faculty Evaluator for Elementary Pedagogy at Western Governors University. At BRES, she has been in the STEM Lab for three years and spent the previous five years teaching fourth grade there. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2020 and has also served as an Elevator Lead Technology Teacher. Currently, she supports the garden program, apiary, and LEGO Club. She attended Western Governors University for her B.A. in Elementary Education, her M.A. in Mathematics Education, and M.Ed. in Learning and Technology. Originally from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, she enjoys traveling home and new places and spending time with her husband, Cory, two children, Joseph (10) and Savannah (4), and their four-legged children, Maggie and Apollo.
The 2023 SC STEM Educator of the Year Finalists:
- Brenda Bouldin – STEM Lab Teacher/Gifted and Talented (3-5) Teacher | Blue Ridge Elementary School | Region One
- STEM Platform: Adapting STEM Concepts & Outreach to reach students of all socioeconomic status and communicative, physical, intellectual abilities.
- Kayla Short – STEAM Instructional Coach | Fairforest Middle School | Region Two
- STEM Platform: Project-based learning in STEAM education.
- Dr. Marsha Neal – Gateway to Technology Teacher | Daniel Island School | Region Five
- STEM Platform: Introducing students to the skills and talents needed for apprenticeships leading to future STEM careers.
- Dr. Tim Swick – Computer Science Immersion School Lead Teacher | Sandlapper Elementary School | Region Three
- STEM Platform: High Quality Computer Science Education Advocacy.
- Heather Mauldin – Teacher, Middle School PLTW and Robotics | Green Sea Floyds Middle – High School | Region Four
- STEM Platform: Developing STEM skills in a post-pandemic world.
© South Carolina's Coalition for Mathematics & Science 2023
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