National Middle Level Science Teachers Association Blog

Member Picked for New Smithsonian Cohort!

Anne Schoeffler — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 01:00:10 GMT

Traci Schanewolf, a sixth grade science teacher in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania will participate in the Teacher Innovator Institute at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in summer 2026!

Congratulations Traci!

Teacher of the Year!

Anne Schoeffler — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 21:38:07 GMT

Member Fatima De Leon Casco is a Broward County Teacher of the Year!

Congratulations, Fatima!

Member Ida Smith receives grant!

Anne Schoeffler — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 03:01:07 GMT

Member Ida Smith has received the Calumet Cares STEM Grant. Congratulations Ida!

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/benton-middle-school-teacher-ida-180856996.html

Barbara Brock - Teacher of the Year!

Anne Schoeffler — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 17:37:25 GMT

High Springs Community School teacher Barbara Brock has been named the Alachua County Teacher of the Year!

https://www.mainstreetdailynews.com/education/barbara-brock-2026-alachua-county-teacher-year

Congratulations Barbara!

Barbara Rebeor Named DoD Ambassador!

Anne Schoeffler — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 21:50:38 GMT

Congratulations to Barbara Rebeor, Science Department Chair and teacher at Harns Marsh Middle School, who will serve as a 2025–2026 Department of Defense (DoD) STEM Ambassador. Rebeor is one of only 30 educators nationwide to receive this prestigious honor for the upcoming year. Read more here: https://www.leeschools.net/news/december_2025/2025_2026_dod_stem_ambassador

Tylita Butler, Teacher of the Year!

Anne Schoeffler — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 19:40:16 GMT

Maryland teacher honored!

https://thebaynet.com/two-mat-alumni-named-teacher-of-the-year/

Jonathan Bailey Selected for Middle School Researchers Conference in D.C.

Anne Schoeffler — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 20:10:35 GMT

Arizona eighth grade science teacher Jonathan Bailey selected!

https://kyma.com/education/yuma-education/2025/09/29/local-science-teacher-selected-to-attend-middle-school-research-teachers-conference-in-d-c/

Member Kristin Slota's students from Afton Elementary Named 2025 National Elementary School of the Year by the NEED Project

Kristin Slota — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 00:00:46 GMT

Afton Elementary Named 2025 National Elementary School of the Year by the NEED Project

Pennsbury School District is proud to announce that Afton Elementary School has been named the 2025 National Elementary School of the Year by the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project! This prestigious honor also includes recognition as Pennsylvania’s Elementary School of the Year.

Earlier this spring, Mrs. Kristin Slota and her students submitted a comprehensive presentation to NEED, highlighting energy-focused work across K–5 SPARK (STEM) classes, the after-school Young Environmentalist Program (YEP), the 2025 K’NEX Design Challenge teams, and several district-wide energy initiatives. Check out this link to see the 2025 submission: https://youthawards.need.org/winner/afton-elementary-project-energy/

As a result of this outstanding achievement, students who participated in at least one YEP session or served on the HydroPower Company K’NEX Design Challenge Team during the 2024–2025 school year were invited to attend the 45th Annual NEED Youth Energy Conference and Awards, held June 27–30, 2025, in Washington, D.C.

Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, Afton Elementary received a $4,000 grant to help offset travel and registration costs for eligible students and staff. Each participating student received funding support to attend this memorable event.

During their time in D.C., students:

Sang energy-themed songs and participated in team-building challenges
Traded state souvenirs with students from across the country
Designed wind-powered vehicles in a STEM engineering challenge
Enjoyed a guided trolley tour of national monuments
Dined aboard a scenic Potomac River Cruise
Attended a formal awards ceremony and received a private tour of the U.S. Capitol, coordinated through Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick’s office

The NEED Project is a national nonprofit supporting K–12 educators with free energy curriculum and resources. Visit www.need.org/educators to explore lesson plans, student projects, and upcoming workshops.

Think your school could be next?
Submissions for the 2026 NEED Youth Awards are due April 15, 2026. For more information or support, contact Mrs. Kristin Slota.

kslota@nmlsta.org

https://youthawards.need.org/about-the-need-youth-awards/

Member Dave Curry earns AGI award

Anne Schoeffler — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 02:14:03 GMT

Dave Curry earns AGI's Roy Award for Excellence in K-8 Earth Science Teaching!https://www.americangeosciences.org/news/press-releases/2025-march-roy-award-winner/

Diana Allen receives a PAEMST Award!

Anne Schoeffler — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 02:51:54 GMT

Diana Allen is awarded a Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching!

https://www.sanford.org/article/1977727

David Amidon Wins NABT Award!

Anne Schoeffler — Sun, 02 Feb 2025 03:01:15 GMT

Board member David Amidon wins the Ecology/Environmental Science Teaching Award from the National Association of Biology Teachers award!

https://nabt.org/Awards-2024-Award-Winners

Amanda Watson - Teacher of the Year

Anne Schoeffler — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 01:45:10 GMT

Florida's Clay County teacher of the year is Amanda Watson!

Clay County Teacher of the Year!

Barbara Rebeor is Teacher of the Year!

Anne Schoeffler — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 23:40:07 GMT

Congratulations NMLSTA member Barbara Rebeor, Lee County Teacher of the Year !

https://www.nbc-2.com/article/school-district-lee-county-honors-teacher-of-the-year/63230302

Rachel Arbor Featured!

Anne Schoeffler — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 22:10:50 GMT

NMLSTA member and most-recent Hurd Award winner, Rachel Arbor, had research she published in September featured as #4 in Edutopia's The 10 Most Significant Education Studies of 2024! The research explored the impact of interdisciplinary environmental education (specifically nature journaling) on student well-being. The results indicated this type of learning experience supports middle school students in stress reduction, mood improvement, and increased connection to self, others, and nature. These results relate to Gaia Scholastic, the organization she founded and have entirely shaped the curricula they develop.

Emily Litz wins the 'Oscar of Teaching' Award!

Peter Kelly — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 00:23:50 GMT

https://www.tapinto.net/towns/scotch-plains-slash-fanwood/sections/education/articles/scotch-plains-teacher-wins-the-oscar-of-teaching-and-25-000

Congratulations David Curry on being named Outstanding Earth Science Educator

Peter Kelly — Sat, 02 Nov 2024 15:17:53 GMT

Newton Middle School educator named Outstanding Earth Science Educator

https://www.buckscountyherald.com/community/education/newtown-middle-school-educator-named-outstanding-earth-science-educator/article_02d91fd8-8fd8-11ef-b5af-a31e5bafc6b8.html

Congratulations Kristin Slota

Loris Chen — Wed, 03 May 2023 16:37:37 GMT

Kristin Slota is the 2023 Bob Thompson Excellence in Energy Award recipient! She has won $1,000 and an all expenses paid trip to attend the National Energy Conference for Educators this July in Austin, TX. Congratulations Kristin, well deserved!

Congratulations to Anne Schoeffler

Loris Chen — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 12:47:58 GMT

NMLSTA Past President Dr. Anne Farley Schoeffler, a science educator at Seton Catholic School, has recieved a one-year appointment to the Polar Educators International Council.

Use the the link to learn more about programs offered by Polar Educators International. https://polareducator.org/

NMLSTA Board Member Kristin Slota Named PLTW Outstanding Teacher

Loris Chen — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 20:08:24 GMT

Kristin Slota has been selected as a Project Lead the Way Outstanding Teacher for 2021-2022. Kristin is a teacher at Afton Elementary in Pennsylvania. The award recognizes creative educational approaches that restult in high student achievement. Use the link to learn more about PLTW Awards for 2o21-2022.

PLTW Yearbook

NMLSTA member Kenneth Huff wins Earth Science Teaching award!

Todd Hoover — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 17:19:23 GMT

Earth Science Teaching Award Winner Announced (from http://www.earthsciweek.org/)

Kenneth L. Huff, a sixth-grade teacher at Mill Middle School in Williamsville, New York, has been named the 2018 recipient of the Edward C. Roy, Jr. Award for Excellence in K-8 Earth Science Teaching. Huff earned his master's degree in education from the State University of New York College at Buffalo and is National Board certified in Early Adolescence/Science. In addition to teaching, Huff was the co-chair of the Teacher Advisory Council for the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine.

"Mr. Huff is an exceptionally accomplished earth and space science teacher," said Allyson Anderson Book, executive director of the American Geosciences Institute. "His demonstrated strength for connecting his students with professional geoscientists and his thoughtful lesson plans have earned the admiration of his colleagues and national recognition in the teaching community."

Huff received the award this month at the National Earth Science Teachers Association (NESTA) Friends of Earth Science Reception during the 2018 National Science Teachers Association Conference in Atlanta. This year's finalists were Anica Brown of Pound Middle School in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Chris Spiegl of Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, Tennessee.

Given annually, AGI's Edward C. Roy, Jr. Award recognizes one classroom teacher from kindergarten to eighth grade for leadership and innovation in Earth science education. The award is named in honor of Dr. Edward C. Roy, Jr., who was a strong and dedicated supporter of Earth science education. To learn more, please see the Roy Award website.

NMLSTA Board Member, Melissa Sleeper, named a NASA Solar System Ambassador!

Todd Hoover — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 15:43:29 GMT

NMLSTA Board Member, Melissa Sleeper, has been named a NASA Solar System Ambassador! The Solar System Ambassadors program is a public engagement effort that works with motivated volunteers across the nation to communicate the science and excitement of NASA's space exploration missions and discoveries to the people in their communities. More details about Melissa's appointment can be found at the link below.

https://solarsystem1.jpl.nasa.gov/ssa/biography.cfm?US_ID=1785

More info about the Solar System Ambassador program can be found at:

https://solarsystem1.jpl.nasa.gov/ssa/home.cfm

Congratulations, Melissa!