Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Winners of Sally Ride-Deloitte Awards for Teaching Innovation in STEM Announced; Teacher-Created Computer Programming Curriculum Takes Top Prize

  • 03/02/15

San Diego, Calif. – Sally Ride Science today announced the winners of a nationwide contest for K-12 educators in the U.S. to recognize innovations in instruction related to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) as well as STEM careers.

The Sally Ride-Deloitte Award for Teaching Innovation in STEM, launched in summer 2014, received more than 100 entries from across the United States. Entries were submitted via Sally Ride Science’s STEMCentral.com, an online library of resources for educators where the winning entries may be viewed.

The winners were chosen by a panel of judges that included: Ira Flatow, the award-winning TV journalist and host of PRI’s Science Friday radio show; René McCormick, Executive Director of Science Programs at the National Math and Science Initiative; and Dr. Sandra Magnus, former NASA astronaut and Executive Director at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

The first-place winner is Ryan York, an administrator at RePublic Schools in Tennessee and Mississippi. His innovation—a free, open-source computer programming curriculum and teacher training program—was hailed by the judges as one that “fills a practical need and looks toward the future,” and that “hopes to shatter the statistic that not a single female, African-American, or Latino student took the AP Computer Science Exam in Mississippi.”

RePublic Schools will be receiving a $5,000 cash prize as well as a Sally Ride STEM License (valued at $3,500)—which will deliver innovative online professional development, dozens of Teacher Guides with lessons and activities, and interactive eBooks to an entire RePublic school.

"At RePublic, we’re teaching our scholars — most of whom come from low-income backgrounds — to code because we believe it will help them break the cycle of poverty," said Lee Pedinoff, Director of Talent and Development for RePublic Schools. "We are honored to be the grand prize winner and are fired up to leverage the Sally Ride platform with our scholars and teachers."

Cofounder and CEO of Sally Ride Science Dr. Tam O’Shaughnessy says of the contest, “Introducing students to the opportunities in STEM fields is a growing priority throughout our educational system. We know that we need to cultivate scientific literacy throughout the K-12 years, and teachers will be the ones to make that happen. We are grateful that Deloitte has generously taken this step with us, to reward the ideas that are already out there, and spur even more innovation around STEM learning in the years ahead.”

Two second-prize winners each received $2,500 for their schools, and Sally Ride STEM Licenses for their schools as well. Additionally, there were five third-place finishers, each of whom earned a $1,000 award for their schools. To view winning entries, visit: https://sallyridescience.com/stem-central/innovation-award-2014

Featured

  • College of the Desert Hits Construction Milestone on New Campus

    College of the Desert recently announced that the construction of its new Palm Springs Campus in Palm Springs, Calif., recently reached a major construction milestone, according to a news release. The college is partnering with general contractor C.W. Driver Companies, which recently “topped out” the facility by placing the final beam in its structure.

  • Moline-Coal Valley School District to Consolidate Two Schools into New Facility

    The Moline-Coal Valley School District in Moline, Ill., recently broke ground on a new elementary school that will consolidate the students and staff from two existing schools, according to local news. Robert Ontiveros Elementary School will serve as the new home for Lincoln-Irving Elementary School and Willard Elementary School.

  • Northeastern University Breaks Ground on New Housing Community

    Northeastern University recently announced the groundbreaking of a new student housing community on its campus in Boston, Mass., according to a news release. The university is partnering with American Campus Communities (ACC) for development of the project, which will have the capacity for 1,200 students and has a scheduled completion date of fall 2028.

  • Hawaii Elementary School Breaks Ground on New Classroom Building

    Kealakehe Elementary School in Kailua, Hawaii, recently began construction on a new, $16-million classroom building for its campus, according to a news release. The 13,000-square-foot building will stand two stories and connect the existing upper and lower campuses.