Teachers Inducted into TI Foundation STEM Academy

September 12, 2008

Plano ISD’s Becky Jackson, Bowman Middle School eighth grade mathematics teacher, and Deborah Johnston, Schimelpfenig Middle School science teacher, were inducted into the Texas Instruments Foundation’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Academy as fellows during an August 21 awards ceremony.

Becky Jackson and Deborah Johnston (center, l-r) were joined at an August 21 academy luncheon by (l-r) Plano ISD’s Dr. Jim Wohlgehagen, secondary math coordinator; Jim Hirsch, associate superintendent for academic and technology services; Missy Bender, school board secretary; Olga Sanchez-Grosscup, Schimelpfenig Middle School principal; Lloyd “Skip” Jenkins, school board president; and Linda Flack, secondary science coordinator.

Each teacher honoree received a $10,000 award: $5,000 for the teacher and $5,000 for professional development or instructional technology.

Teachers were nominated by their school principals based on criteria such as demonstrating and documenting teaching effectiveness, establishing classroom innovation, participating in education activities outside of the classroom, encouraging curiosity and generating excitement in STEM subjects among students.

Read more on this Web site about these two outstanding teachers and an additional four Plano ISD educators who were honored as finalists for the STEM award at a May, 2008, school board meeting.