River Eves Educator Named Georgia STEM Teacher of the Year

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The Museum of Aviation’s National STEM Academy congratulates Ally Baker of River Eves Elementary School in Roswell for being selected as a 2015-2016 Georgia STEM Teacher of the Year.

Terra McMillan of Thomson Middle School in Houston County was also awarded the distinction.

Each Georgia STEM Teacher of the Year will be presented with a cash award of $1,000 and an additional $1,000 for their schools during the National STEM Academy’s Georgia NASA STEM Day Conference for Educators.

The STEM -- Science, Technology, Engineering and Math -- Teacher of the Year Award was open to any first- through fifth- and sixth- through eighth-grade teacher who demonstrates the best effort in STEM education in a Georgia classroom.

“We recognize how important it is for students to participate in STEM activities,” said Melissa Spalding, Museum of Aviation director of education. ”Teachers are making a difference in the future of Georgia’s workforce. The Museum of Aviation is proud to support teachers with training opportunities, resources and this STEM award.”

The STEM Teacher of the Year award has been held for the past three years by the National STEM Academy, thanks to sponsorships. This is the first year that the contest was open to both elementary teachers and middle school teachers.

On Saturday, Sept. 12, during the GA NASA STEM Day Conference, the schools and teachers will receive their awards. The ceremony will be located in the Century of Flight Hangar at the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins.

River Eves Elementary School has earned numerous accolades, including two Reward School Titles for Highest-Performing Title I School. The River Eves PTA, Education Foundation and business partners collectively give approximately $100,000 annually to provide enrichment for a diverse group of students at the Roswell school.

More than 40,000 students and teachers took part in Museum-offered programs and classes last year.

For more information on the STEM Teacher of the Year award and the upcoming GA NASA STEM Day Conference for Educators, please visit www.museumofaviation.org.

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Photo: from left, student Virginia Franklin, Ally Baker of River Eves Elementary School and students Nicholas Fazzolari and Marc Thomas experiment in the STEM Lab.