The Plano ISD Education Foundation and Plano ISD Secondary Academic Services Department hosted a reception on February 18 for secondary teachers who were nominated for the 2016 Texas Instruments Foundation Innovations in STEM Teaching Awards.
Plano ISD superintendent Dr. Brian Binggeli, and President of the Plano ISD Education Foundation Jean Callison, joined Harshal Chhaya with Texas Instruments to greet the 20 nominees. Former award winners Karen Shepherd and David Carroll shared their experiences with the award process and how winning helped them develop professionally and fund technology for their classrooms.
The Plano ISD Education Foundation has partnered with Texas Instruments Foundation for the past 10 years to recognize outstanding Plano ISD teachers of secondary science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Nominees each complete an application which explains their teaching philosophy and classroom innovation. A panel of judges observes the nominees in their classrooms before selecting three winners. The award recipients will each receive a $5,000 personal award and a $5,000 award that will go toward their school to enhance curriculum or teacher quality. Three additional finalists will each receive a $500 award.
Finalists and winners will be announced at a school board meeting this spring and recognized by the Texas Instruments Foundation during fall.
