Eleven Teachers Earn STEM Fellowship

Eleven educators completed a fellowship with the Arizona STEM Acceleration Project (ASAP) in partnership with Arizona State University. 

ASAP is an initiative that provides direct support, resources, and funding to Arizona’s K-12 educators as they deliver high-quality, hands-on STEM education to our state’s future leaders.  Fellows are given a host of high-quality professional development opportunities and a stipend for their participation in creating lesson plans, hosting STEM projects, and enriching STEM for their students.

Recipients include Janet Anderson from Valley Vista High School, Kathy Berger from Riverview School, Huda Clemens from Western Peaks Elementary School, Megan Collins from Luke Elementary School, Liana Gillespie from Canyon Ridge School, Ellen Hunt from Countryside Elementary School, Kristina Jallo from Surprise Elementary School, Lacey Merritt from Canyon Ridge School, Lisa Moberg from Sunset Hills Elementary School, Cassie Strahota from Mountain View School, and Alexis Wilson from Thompson Ranch Elementary School.

The requirements for the fellowship include 30 hours of STEM professional development, submission of four lesson plans to the STEM Lesson Plan Repository, a STEM project with students, and end of year report. 

Seven of the awardees celebrated the accomplishment at the ASAP STEM Exchange Conference this summer, which was hosted at ASU SkySong.  The conference featured breakout sessions, access to free STEM supplies for each teacher, and allowed for connections between teachers across the state.

The fellowship opens up a network of opportunities for staff and allows teachers to share successful lesson plans and projects state-wide. ASAP Fellows receive a $2,000 stipend to purchase STEM supplies for projects, a $4,500 stipend, and access to a broad range of STEM professional development opportunities throughout Arizona.

Dysart teachers represent the largest number of ASAP fellows in the entire state of Arizona.  Teacher lesson plans and projects are viewable by searching each fellow’s name in the STEM Lesson Plan Repository.  Subjects include Stoichiometry, Coding, Snowflake Geometry, 3D Shoe Design, Wind Powered Cars, Treehouse Design, Cell Membrane Study, Soil Exploration, Science of Sound, Exploring Weather Patterns with Code, and more.

“This program has allowed my campus to receive supplies and other materials and resources related to science and STEM,” said Megan Collins. “Being an ASAP fellow has challenged me and allowed me to incorporate STEAM lessons into each grade level art class including a new elective called Art and Technology.” 

Founded in 2022, ASAP is a grassroots effort to enhance and accelerate STEM activities in schools across Arizona. It provides vital funding and guidance to schools and professional development organizations, increasing their ability to foster engagement, update curricula, and acquire materials needed to improve STEM education for Arizona’s youth and young adults.  ASAP has supported, funded, and provided guidance to over 700 teacher fellows looking to accelerate STEM activities, enrich lessons, and provide materials for students.