Awards

LSTA Science Education Awards are presented by the Louisiana Science Teachers Association, an affiliate of the National Science Teachers Association. These awards are bestowed in the categories listed below at the annual conference. Click on each of the award titles for the nomination/application form.

***Awards Deadline:  Tuesday, November 30, 2021***  UPDATED

• Outstanding Science Teacher Awards (Elementary, Middle and High School)
• Essie Beck “Rising Star”
• Claudia Fowler Distinguished Service to Science Education
• Distinguished Informal Science Educator
• William W. Craig University Educator

Outstanding Science Teacher of the Year Awards

Outstanding Science Teacher of the Year Awards are presented by the Louisiana Science Teachers Association to one science teacher at each level (elementary, middle and secondary) who has demonstrated exemplary science teaching. This may include performance in the development/use of instructional materials, design/implementation of curriculum, and/or fostering school-based instructional programs in science for longer than five years.

Essie Beck “Rising Star” Science Education Award

The Essie Beck Rising Star Science Education Award is presented by the Louisiana Science Teachers Association to one science teacher at any level (K-12) who has demonstrated exemplary science teaching. This may include performance in the development/use of instructional materials, design/implementation of curriculum, and/or fostering school-based or community-based instructional programs in science for a period of three to five years. This award is named for Essie Beck who devoted both her teaching career and retirement years to the improvement of science education in Louisiana.

Claudia Fowler Distinguished Service to Science Education Award

The Claudia Fowler Distinguished Service to Science Education Award recognizes an LSTA member for distinguished service in the field of science education. LSTA members in good standing are invited to share in the selection process by sending nominations of current LSTA members to LSTA for review by the Awards Committee. The award is designed to recognize an LSTA member who has made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of science education in the sciences and science teaching. The recipient may be a present or former school administrator, state department of education employee, elected official, LSTA officer or other (at the discretion of the Awards Committee). The nominee must have been a member of LSTA for a minimum of 3 years.

Distinguished Informal Science Education Award

The Distinguished Informal Science Education Award is given for distinguished service in the field of informal science education. Nominations for this award come from the LSTA membership and any current member in good standing is encouraged to nominate a colleague for this prestigious award.

The award is designed to recognize one LSTA member who is not a classroom teacher and who has made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of science education in other than a traditional school setting. Examples include (but are not limited to) individuals who work for a science-technology center, museum, nature center, community service center, foundation, state agency, or federal agency. Representatives from business or industry also are potential nominees. The nominee must have been a member of LSTA for a minimum of 3 years.

William Craig Outstanding University Educator Award

The Louisiana Science Teachers Association has instituted an award to honor the memory of the late Dr. William W. Craig, Professor of Geology at the University of New Orleans. Dr. Craig’s influence upon K-12 educators was profound, even though his area of work was that of a research scientist. This award seeks to recognize University faculty members who like Dr. Craig, have reached out to K-12 educators and made a difference in their careers. LSTA members are invited to share in the selection process by sending nominations of current LSTA members to LSTA for review by the Awards Committee.