Know a great STEM teacher? Nominate them for the INDEEDS Award!

A coalition of Idaho’s leading industries have partnered with the Idaho State Department of Education and Idaho State Board of Education to improve a prestigious awards program to recognize and reward Idaho’s teachers who are working hard every day to grow the next generation of leaders in science and technology.

Formerly known as the GIANTS Award, the new Industry’s Excellent Educators Dedicated to STEM Awards Program –referred to as INDEEDS – has been unveiled this year to better reflect the critical role business and industry play in identifying, recognizing and rewarding excellent science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) teachers across Idaho.

INDEEDS is proudly sponsored by the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Micron Foundation, Washington Division of URS, Hewlett-Packard Company, Idaho Power, and LCF Enterprises, with support from the Idaho Technology Council, Discovery Center of Idaho, Idaho State Department of Education, and Idaho State Board of Education.

The new award also will help duplicate their successes within local schools and communities.

Every school principal can now nominate up to one teacher in his or her school for the INDEEDS Award. If you know a deserving teacher, encourage your principal to submit a nomination!

Two Idaho teachers will receive the INDEEDS Award each year. Each INDEEDS awardee will receive:

• A $2,000 individual cash prize to recognize and reward his/her personal success, and
• A $2,000 grant to expand STEM activities within his/her school and community.

All INDEEDS awardees also will be publicly recognized at the Idaho Technology Council’s Annual Hall of Fame and Innovation Awards Banquet in October.

Nominations are due to the State Department of Education no later than April 3, 2014 at 5 p.m. MST. Check out the INDEEDS website for more information.  

Here’s what leaders in education, business and industry are saying about the INDEEDS Award:

“There is an inseparable link between a growing, robust economy and a high-quality education system. For this reason, I am grateful Idaho’s industry leaders remain committed to improving Idaho’s education system by working to recognize and reward our talented teachers through the INDEEDS Awards Program,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna said.

“Our primary mission at the Micron Foundation is to spark a passion for STEM education in youth in the hopes of helping develop next-generation engineers, and we’re thrilled to help recognize and encourage the teachers who do this every day,” said Dee Mooney, executive director of the Micron Foundation.

“The Idaho Technology Council is proud to support the INDEEDS Awards Program to recognize Idaho’s teachers who are working to build the future technology leaders in Idaho and across the country,” said Jay Larsen, President and Founder of the Idaho Technology Council.

“Businesses need competitive employees with STEM skills. We want to recognize and support those teachers and schools that spark students’ interest in STEM pathways,” said Dr. Lorna Finman, President of LCF Enterprises and founder of Discover Technology.