The STEM Forward Outstanding Educator Award recognizes K–12 professionals who demonstrate excellence, initiative, leadership, and a commitment to continuous improvement in their schools and communities.

Each year, STEM Forward celebrates educators who create meaningful opportunities for students, advance STEM learning, strengthen connections to careers, and help students see new possibilities for their future.

Nominations Are Open for 2026–27!

Help us recognize an educator whose work is making a difference!

Nominations for the 2026–27 STEM Forward Outstanding Educator Award are now open and will be accepted through December 7, 2026, at midnight.

Click Here to Nominate An Outstanding Educator

Who Should Be Nominated?

Outstanding Educator recipients should reflect the goals of STEM Forward through their work. Nominees should:

• Foster high K–12 student achievement
• Demonstrate leadership and a commitment to continuous improvement
• Promote science, technology, engineering, and math careers
• Build collaboration among K–12 schools, businesses, and higher education partners

The award is intended for K–12 professionals whose work creates meaningful learning opportunities and demonstrates a lasting impact on students, schools, or communities.

How to Submit a Nomination

Nominators are encouraged to receive approval from their district office, superintendent, director of schools, curriculum director, or equivalent administrator before submitting a nomination.

The online nomination form asks nominators to provide information about the educator’s background, experience, teaching responsibilities, leadership, and impact.

Nominations are due December 7, 2026, at midnight.

Members of the STEM Forward Executive Committee are not eligible for this award.

Award Recognition

Outstanding Educator Award recipients are recognized during the annual STEM Forward gathering in February.

Questions?

For questions about the Outstanding Educator Award, nominations, or STEM Forward, contact:

Vic Dreier
Regional STEM Specialist
vdreier@ssc.coop
(507) 910-9587

Sarah Ness
Development Director
sness@ssc.coop
(507) 281-6678

Past Outstanding Educator Award Recipients

Year	First	Last	District	Position	Links
2026	Peter	Johnson	Pine Island	Innovative Arts Instructor	KAAL
2024	Sarah Mangan, K-3rd Grade STEM Teacher, Goodhue Public Schools Denine Voegeli, 8th Grade Science Teacher, Plainview-Elgin-Millville Community Schools Ashley Kaplan, Director of Student and Staff Support Systems, Kasson-Mantorville Public Schools Lindsey Hess, Director of Information Technology, Kasson-Mantorville Public Schools				Post Bulletin Post Bulletin KIMT Q Media Albert Lea Tribune
2023	Emily	Hovland	Austin	Language Arts Teacher & CEO Program Facilitator	KAAL  KIMT KAUS
2022	Jacob	Findlay	Byron	HS Careers	News story
2021	Rick	Hengel	MN State College SE	CNC Instructor	News story
2021	Isaac	Ydstie	Kasson-Mantorville	MS PLTW	News story
2020	Jessica	Marquardt	Kasson-Mantorville	Elementary
2019	Burke	Egner	Albert Lea	MS Technology & STEM
2019	Angela	Heitmann	Zumbrota-Mazeppa	HS Science
2018	Matt	Cada	Plainview-Elgin-Millville	Middle School Math
2018	Mark	Nechanicky	Albert Lea	Elementary
2017	Shannon	Johnson	Zumbrota-Mazeppa	Elementary Math
2017	Kristen	Seeger	Albert Lea	Media Specialist
2016	Chris	Otterness	Kasson Mantorville	HS Industrial Tech
2016	Aaron	Davis	Kasson Mantorville	HS Industrial Tech
2015	Angela	Wesis	Rochester Catholic Schools	HS Math & Science
2014	Paul	Chick	Plainview-Eligin-Millville	HS Physics
2014	Andy	Pethen	Byron	HS Math
2013	Mary	Graves	Zumbrota Mazeppa	6
2013	Megan	Schlmek	Pine Island	HS Biology
2012	Dan	Vrieze	Dover-Eyota	HS Math
2012	Jamie	Quam	Zumbrota Mazeppa	HS Math
2011	Jennifer	Green	Byron	HS Math
2011	Roger	Larsen	Rochester Public Schools	8 Earth Science
2011	Cheryl	Moertel	Rochester Public Schools	HS Life Science
2010	Jeremy	Baumbach	Byron	MS Math
2010	Jennifer	Garin	Plainview-Elgin-Millville	HS Biology
2010	William	Rauen	Zumbrota-Mazeppa	HS Math
2010	James	Sonju	Rochester Public (Lincoln K-8), Winona State, Mayo Clinic	InSciEd Out
2009	Beverly	Nelson	Stewartville	HS Biology
2009	Dr. ViAnn	Olson	RCTC	20 Years Hosting Mathcounts Competitions
2009	Anne	Soleberg	Zumbrota-Mazeppa	6 Math
2008	Mapuna	Evjen	Byron	2
2008	Charles	Handlon	Rochester Public Schools	HS Science
2008	David	Pugh	Rochester Public Schools	HS Math
2007	Heidi	Howe	Stewartville	MS
2007	Peter	Somers	Triton	HS Math
2007	Rob	Warneke	Byron	HS Math
2006	Troy	Faulkner	Byron	HS Math
2006	Annette	Freiheit	Hayfield	EL Principal
2006	Jane	Johnson	Dover Eyota	Curriculum Coordinator
2006	Ross	Aleff	Mayo Clinic College of Medicine	Mobile Science Labs
2006	Michael	Ellingson	Triton	MS Math
2005	Kari	Stellpflug	Rochester Public	HS Math & Computer Science
2005	Tom	Theye	Dover Eyota	HS Biology & Chemistry
2005	Mike	Matuska	Zumbrota-Mazeppa	HS Math
2004	De	Cansler	Rochester Public Schools	7 Science
2004	Carol	Lucido	Rochester Public Schools	I/A Everyday Math
2004	Tammy	Beniak	Zumbrota-Mazeppa	5/6  Math
2003	Charro	Coleman	Byron	8 Science
2003	Bob	Weinmann	Rochester Catholics Schools	HS Science
2002	Mike	Greve	Rochester Catholic Schools	7 Science
2002	Steve	Schwartz	Stewartville	HS Math

 

---

Contact: Sarah Ness, Development Director, (507) 281-6678, sness@ssc.coop

---