STEM it Up² (2023-2026) Participants

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  • Connecticut

    School: The Sound School

    Education: M.A. +30 Educational Leadership

    Number of years teaching: 11

    Number of students: 50

    Teaching the following courses:

    • Horticulture 1 & 2

    • Early College Experience Course - Southern

    • ECE

    • Bio 101

    • Botany

    Facilities:

    • Classroom

    • Greenhouse

    • Nature Trail

    • Pond / Creek / Ocean

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  • Arkansas

    School: Cotter High School

    Education: B.S.

    Number of years teaching: 12

    Number of students: 100

    Teaching the following courses:

    • Plant Science

    • Survey of Agricultural Systems (Intro to Ag)

    • AG Mechanics

    • AG Structures

    • Animal Science

    • Vet Science

    Facilities:

    • Classroom

    • Barn

    • Nature Trail

    • Shop

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  • Alabama

    School: Limestone Career Technical School

    Education: M.A.

    Number of years teaching: 14

    Number of students: 75

    Teaching the following courses:

    • Ag Communications

    • Ag Marketing & Management

    • Plant Biotechnology

    • Applied Ag Science

    Facilities:

    • Classroom

    • Laboratory

    • Greenhouse

    • Barn

    • Land Lab

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  • Washington

    School: New Horizons

    Education: B.S.

    Number of years teaching: 14

    Number of students: 270

    Teaching the following courses:

    • Floriculture

    • CASE ASP

    • CASE AFNR

    • Ag Business and Leadership

    • Ag Enterprise

    Facilities:

    • Classroom

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  • Alabama

    School: Mary G. Montgomery High School

    Education: B.S.

    Number of years teaching: 6

    Number of students: 200

    Teaching the following courses:

    • Fundamentals of Agriscience

    • Horticulture Science

    • Greenhouse and Nursery Management

    • CTE LAB in Horticulture

    Facilities:

    • Classroom

    • Greenhouse

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  • Tennessee

    School: Warren County High School

    Education: B.S.

    Number of years teaching: 18

    Number of students: 100

    Teaching the following courses:

    • Agriscience

    • Plant Science and Biotechnology

    • Greenhouse Management

    • Landscape and Turfgrass

    • Horticulture Work Based Learning

    Facilities:

    • Classroom

    • Greenhouse

    • Barn

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  • North Carolina

    School: Apex High School

    Education: B.S.

    Number of years teaching: 5

    Number of students: 110

    Teaching the following courses:

    • Honors Horticulture 1

    • Honors Horticulture 2

    • Honors Sustainable Agriculture Production 1

    Facilities:

    • Classroom

    • Laboratory

    • Greenhouse

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  • South Carolina 

    School: Anderson Institute of Technology   

    Education: B.S. 

    Number of years teaching: 1

    Number of students: 96

    Teaching the following courses: 

    • Agricultural Biosystems Science 

    • Animal Science 

    • Horticulture for the Workplace I 

    Facilities: 

    • Classroom

    • Laboratory/Shop  

    • Greenhouse 

    • Barn 

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  • South Carolina

    School: Loris High School

    Education: M.Ed.

    Number of years teaching: 4

    Number of students: 140

    Teaching the following courses:

    • Agricultural Science & Technology

    • Introduction to horticulture

    • Floriculture

    • Agrisbusinesses & Marketing

    Facilities:

    • Classroom

    • Greenhouse

    • Nature Trail

    • Pond / Creek / Ocean

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  • New Mexico

    School: Mesa Vista HS

    Education: B.S.

    Number of years teaching: 36+ years

    Number of students: 75-85

    Teaching the following courses:

    • Floriculture

    • Ag Leadership

    • Food Science

    • Welding

    • 2 middle school agriscience

    Facilities:

    • Classroom

    • Shop

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  • Washington

    School: Epjrata

    Education: M.S.

    Number of years teaching: 17

    Number of students: 120

    Teaching the following courses:

    • Intro to Ag

    • Horticulture

    • Floriculture

    Facilities:

    • Classroom

    • Greenhouse

    • Barn

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  • Ohio

    School: Aiken New Tech High School

    Education: M.Ed.

    Number of years teaching: 28

    Number of students: 100+

    Teaching the following courses:

    • Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources

    • Animal & Plant Science

    • Greenhouse & Nursery Management

    • Global Economics & Food Markets

    Facilities:

    • Classroom

    • Laboratory

    • Greenhouse

    • Barn

    • Land Lab

    • Nature Trail

    • Pond / Creek / Ocean

    • Native Prairie and Woods

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  • Florida

    School: Umatilla High School

    Education: B.S.

    Number of years teaching: 18

    Number of students: 140

    Teaching the following courses:

    • Ag Foundations

    • Hort 2

    • Hort 3-4

    • Natural Resources

    Facilities:

    • Classroom

    • Greenhouse

    • Land Lab

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  • North Carolina

    School: Greene Central High

    Education: M.S.

    Number of years teaching: 6

    Number of students: 80

    Teaching the following courses:

    • Horticulture I

    • Horticulture II

    • Horticulture II - Floriculture

    • Foundations of Agriculture

    • Agricultural Mechanics I & II

    Facilities:

    • Classroom

    • Greenhouse

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  • Pennsylvania

    School: Elwyn Davidson

    Education: B.S.

    Number of years teaching: 11

    Number of students: unknown

    Teaching the following courses:

    • Garden Center

    • Transition Horticulture

    Facilities:

    • Classroom

    • Greenhouse

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  • Minnesota

    School: Academy of Sciences and Agriculture    

    Education: M.S. 

    Number of years teaching: 7

    Number of students: 100

    Teaching the following courses: 

    • Small Animal 

    • Woodworking 

    • Construction 

    • Welding 

    • Ag Coms 

    • Ag Econ 

    Facilities: 

    • Classroom

    • Greenhouse 

    • Shop 

STEM it Up participants have come from across the country!

  • Jenny Allen

    • 2019 ACTE Region I New Teacher of the Year

    Cliff Collins

    Lauren Frances

    Olivia Haigler

    Jessica Heritage

    Susan Hilleary

    Amanda Kacal

    • 2024 Golden Owl Educator of the Year Award for Area III

    Willow Klein

    Carolyn Lauritzen

    Ramon Quiroga

    Danielle Rushing

    Lindsey Saxton

    Stephanie Zimmer

  • Melissa Achziger

    Mary Bennett

    Marty Campbell

    Teresa Cummings

    Becky DeShazo

    Anita DeWeese

    • 2025 NAAE Region II Teacher of the Year; 2022 KAAE New Teacher of the Year

    Caitlyn Gitchell

    Amy Goulter-Allen

    Nan Hamilton

    Ali Herbel

    Christopher Hicks

    • 2024 National Association of Agriclutural Educators Teacher Mentor Award; 2023 NCATA Southeast Regional Teacher of the Year

    Katie Huberty

    Catherine Kolbet

    Vincent Newman

    • 2022 Florida Teacher as Hero Award Recipients

    Samantha Pierce

    Sarah Randall

    Rustie Robison

    • Presented Workshops at 2024 and 2025 NAAE; Current PhD Student Clemson University; Ag Education

    Becca Spinks

    Halee Merrell Womac

    • 2022 Outstanding Teacher Award for the Tennessee Association of Agricultural Educators Eastern Region

    Lee Wright

    • 2025 WV Environmental Teacher of the Year - High School Level

  • Corey Alleman

    Natalie Barkley

    Angie Barney

    Mary Beasley

    Kristina Bliley

    Melissa Bonifas

    • 2020 Career and Technical Education (CTE) Richard Katt Outstanding Nebraska Career Educator Award

    Lucien Bouffard

    • CT Region I Teacher of the Year

    Mindy Clisso

    Sam DeShazo

    Brianna Ellis

    Jacob Englin

    • 2022 SDAAE Outstanding Agricultural Education Teacher; PhD Student at LSU; Assistant Professor at SDSU

    Holden Epperly

    Miranda Kane

    Pebbles Lacross

    • 2025 CT State Executive Secretary and FFA Executive Committee Advisor

    AJ Lambert

    Sarah Mallette

    Luz Mendoza

    Kady Meyer

    Nathaniel Nolden

    • 2025 WAAE Ideas Unlimited Winner 

    Lisa Pieper

    • Goodheart-Willcox Floral Design Reviewer; 2023 Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas (ATAT) with the “Outstanding Publication” award during the ATAT Professional Development Conference

    Linda Sattler

    • 2025 NAAE Outstanding Service Award 

  • Melanie Berndtson

    Courtney Bockbrader

    Liz Borst

    Carlie Bossard

    • 2023 District 8 Golden Owl Recipient

    Tammy Brandvold

    Julia Collins

    Michelle Edens

    Hailey Gates

    Leah Kessler

    Kaycee Larios

    Samantha Ludlam

    • 2021 Executive Director of the Michigan Sheep Producers Association

    Amanda Mattingly

    Lori Anna Moseley

    Lucinda Pease

    Jamie Pudenz

    • 2022 Iowa State University Young Alum fo the Month; 2022 STEM Teacher Award  

    Amanda Schmitz

    Regina Smart

    • 22-23  CPSB's High School Teacher of the Year

Past STEM it Up (SIU) participants