Trailblazing STEM Educator Award

• Nominee must be a K-12 educator who brings real-world STEM experiences to students
• Past recipients are ineligible for future consideration
• All recipients must be or become an AIAA Educator Associate member
• Preference will be given to teachers who demonstrate active use of AIAA and Challenger Center resources in their classroom
• Self-nominations are not permitted
• Nominator is not required to be a current AIAA member
• Nominator may not serve as a reference
• References are not required to be current AIAA members
• One of two letters of endorsement must be provided by the principal of the nominee’s school or the educator's supervisor
• Nominations must be submitted using the online database

Nomination materials must include:

Page 1: NOMINATION FORM

Page 2: NOMINEE BIOGRAPHY

Must include:

• The nominee’s teaching experience
• Professional activities
• Formal and continuing education
• Awards and publications (if any)
• A brief summary of personal teaching philosophy
  

Page 3: NOMINATION BASIS

Describe in detail how the educator:

• Connects classroom lessons to our country's current and future ambitions for space exploration and aerospace innovation.
• Introduces young students to STEM careers that could be relevant to future space exploration or aerospace innovation.
• Sparks students' imaginations about what will or could be the future - where humans are living and working in space.
• Engages students and gets them excited about our country's future. 

Where applicable, all nominations should also describe how the educator:  

• Promotes active learning and successfully encourages students to think imaginatively, critically, and independently. 
• Demonstrates instructional techniques that are appropriate for and effective with a variety of different learning styles. 
• Interacts enthusiastically and effectively with students beyond the classroom, using all opportunities productively to promote learning and address individual student needs. 
• Motivates and impacts students, colleagues, and the community with their engaging and inspiring presence.
• Achieves exemplary educational accomplishments beyond the classroom that provide models of excellence for the profession.
• Demonstrates active use of AIAA and/or Challenger Center resources within the classroom. 

Pages 4: LETTERS OF ENDORSEMENT

• Two signed letters of endorsement
  • For classroom educators: one letter of endorsement must be provided by the Principal of the nominee’s school or;
  • For educators outside of the classroom setting: one letter of endorsement must be provided by the educators’ supervisor
    

Winners will be announced in February or March and will be honored at the AIAA Awards Gala in Washington, DC.

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  Jenn Donais

  School: Amesbury Middle School

  Citation: With 15 years of education experience, Donais prepares students for STEM careers through innovative STEM curricula, immersive STEM days, and career fairs. As an international STEM trainer, she has facilitated professional development sessions in the United Arab Emirates, collaborated with schools nationwide on STEM development, and has contributed to journals and other platforms to improve STEM engagement. In collaboration with Challenger Learning Center at the Christa McAuliffe Center, Framingham State University, Donais founded the Massachusetts Teacher STEM Fair, providing students and teachers with STEM engagement opportunities. She is a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching awardee, Project Lead The Way Lead Launch Teacher, and Google Certified Coach.

• 

  Sarah Leonard

  School: Redding Middle School

  Citation: As an educator for 12 years, with Project Lead The Way certification, Leonard creates inclusive and equitable learning environments for all students. This school year, Leonard organized STEM Connection Stations for the district’s Education Showcase Night, collaborated with NASA Johnson Space Center to secure the loan of an authentic NASA model for the school, and will be participating in the Civil Air Patrol’s Educator Flight program. She serves as advisor for the National Junior Honor Society and the STEM Connect Club, and she is a member of the Association for Career and Technical Education, AIAA, and Civil Air Patrol. She has been honored with the Delaware STEM Educator Award and 2024 Delaware District 2 VFW Teacher of the Year Award.

• 

  Darryl Newhouse

  School: Foshay Learning Center

  For more than 25 years, Newhouse has been igniting students’ passion and building excitement about STEM through robotics and technology. He established an engineering pathway for middle school and high school students, and successfully implemented an academically rigorous program using Project Lead The Way curriculum. As lead coach for the school’s FIRST Robotics team, he emphasizes not only technical skills, but 21st-century skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and team building, as well as community service. Through project-based learning activities, he has made math and science more meaningful to students, preparing underrepresented and disadvantaged youth for post-secondary opportunities and STEM careers.