STAT Statewide Awards
Each year, STAT is proud to recognize excellence in and dedication to the field of science education through its annual award program, which highlights classroom teachers at multiple levels (Rookie, Elementary, Middle School, High School), campus/district leadership, and university excellence. A committee of STAT members reviews all applications and selects award recipients to be recognized during the annual Conference for the Advancement of Science Teaching (CAST).
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Outstanding Science Teacher of the Year Awards
Distinguished Leadership in Science Administrator Award
Gerald Skoog Cup for Outstanding Leadership in Science Teacher Education
Virginia Woods Award for Exceptional Contributions and Leadership in Science Education
Outstanding Science Teacher of the Year Awards
The Outstanding Science Teacher of the Year Awards recognize excellence in science teaching in Texas public, private, or charter schools and are presented annually. Categories open for recognition include: Rookie teacher (3 or less year in role), Elementary teacher, Middle School teacher, and High School teacher.
Requirements
- Evidence of creativity in the classroom, dedication to community involvement and professional growth as demonstrated through the application process.
- Appropriate grade-level designation.
- Currently a member of STAT.
- Currently teaching in a Texas school.
- Not currently serving as an Executive Board member or Awards Committee member.
Recognition
- Each award winner is announced in the fall and formally recognized at CAST.
- Each award winner receives a physical award, an honorarium of $1,500, complimentary CAST registration, two nights in a CAST hotel, and a customary travel expense reimbursement.
Distinguished Leadership in Science Administrator Award
The Distinguished Leadership in Science Award recognizes outstanding support of science education at the district or state level by a non-teaching administrator in early childhood through grade 12 and is presented annually.
Requirements
- Evidence of outstanding support of science education at the district or state level, dedication to community involvement and supporting the professional growth of teachers as demonstrated through an application process.
- Currently a member of STAT.
- Currently serving in a non-teaching administrator role in a Texas school district or campus.
- Not currently serving as an Executive Board member or Awards Committee member.
Recognition
- The award winner is announced in the fall and formally recognized at CAST.
- The award winner receives a physical award, an honorarium of $1,500, complimentary CAST registration, two nights in a CAST hotel, and a customary travel expense reimbursement.
Gerald Skoog Cup for Outstanding Leadership in Science Teacher Education
The Skoog Cup College Faculty Award is presented to a faculty or staff member at a Texas college or university who has demonstrated significant contributions to and leadership in the development of quality science education. Presented by STAT and Texas Tech University's Howard Hughes Medical Institute Science Education Program, this award is named for Dr. Gerald Skoog, the Paul Whitfield Horn Professor Emeritus of Texas Tech University.
Requirements
- Evidence of significant contributions and leadership in the development of quality science education through university programming as demonstrated through an application process.
- Currently a member of STAT.
- Currently serving in a non-teaching administrator role in a Texas school district or campus.
- Not currently serving as an Executive Board member or Awards Committee member.
Recognition
- The award winner is announced in the fall and formally recognized at CAST.
- The award winner receives the Skoog Cup trophy, an honorarium of $500, complimentary CAST registration, two nights in a CAST hotel, and a customary travel expense reimbursement.
Virginia Woods Award for Exceptional Contributions and Leadership in Science Education
The Virginia Woods Award may be presented in an ongoing recognition of Virginia Woods's contributions to science education in general and to the Science Teachers Association of Texas in particular. It is the highest award STAT can bestow upon a member for contributions to science education. The award is named for Virginia Woods, STAT's longtime executive secretary.
This award will only be given when an exceedingly worthy individual is identified and is bestowed upon by a special action of the STAT Executive Board. As such, there is no formal application, nor is this an annual award. However, recommendations for potential recipients may be sent to the Board at [email protected] during the award nominations window.
Requirements
- The recipient must be a long-standing member of STAT (20 years or more).
- One letter of nomination and two to five letters of support, plus the nominee’s curriculum vitae, are required.
- Significant contributions to science education, including any or all of the following, must be demonstrated:
- outstanding leadership and service in STAT activities,
- long-standing leadership in a field of science education,
- outstanding contributions to the improvement of science curriculum,
- scholarly writing in the field of science education,
- contributions to science education over a significant length of time,
- overall excellence of contributions to STAT and science education.
Recognition
- The award winner is announced in the fall and formally recognized at CAST.
- The award winner receives a physical award, an honorarium of $1,500, complimentary CAST registration, two nights in a CAST hotel, and a customary travel expense reimbursement.
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