The Northwest STEM Region’s 2018 I.O.W.A. STEM Teacher Award honoree is Jacquie Drey, a 4th grade teacher at Storm Lake Elementary School. Drey believes that science is more than a school subject. She has integrated STEM learning into her classroom and paved the way for creating a lifelong interest in STEM fields. She has put together several in-school and after-school STEM events at Storm Lake Elementary, including the Science Olympiad Family Fun Night (culminating from her work with Every Learner Inquires with the Iowa Department of Education), a 4th Grade Science Olympiad Day and another 4th Grade Science Olympiad Day NASA Style.
Drey was a participant in the Iowa Space Grant Consortium, along with ten other Iowan teachers, at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL in February of 2017. The purpose of this experience was to connect schools to learning opportunities that move the NASA mission forward and increase the awareness of STEM careers.
Through social media feeds and pages, Drey connects with the parents of her students and continues her students’ STEM learning at home. She has also brought in science leaders to her school, regularly attends professional learning events regarding new Iowa Science Standards and is an elementary representative to the Storm Lake Community School District science leadership group.
This award, sponsored by Kemin Industries, recognizes and celebrates one teacher from each of the six STEM regions who goes above and beyond to increase his/her student’s interest in STEM. Each recipient is recognized for his/her dedication in representing I.O.W.A.; by being Innovative in their methods, Outstanding in their passion for education, Worldly in the way they help students see that STEM is all around them, and Academic through engaging students in the classroom to prepare them for higher education and high-demand careers.
For more information about the award and all current and previous recipients, please visit https://iowastem.gov/teacheraward.