Karen McNeil (center), a science teacher at Bowman Middle School of Plano ISD, received a Texas Instruments Foundation Innovation in STEM Teaching Award. Presenting the award were Rich Templeton (left), chairman, president and CEO of Texas Instruments, and Sam Self (right) chairman of the TI Foundation.

Teachers directly contribute to the future success of businesses, cities, states and societies. Math and science educators prepare students for the future technical workforce, instilling skills that drive innovation and ensure global competitiveness.

That's why the Texas Instruments Foundation established the Innovations in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Teaching Awards five years ago to recognize instructors in Dallas, Plano and Richardson Independent School District (ISD) secondary schools who consistently demonstrate quality instruction and enhance student achievement in STEM subjects.

"We support education to build an ecosystem of innovation," said Ann Pomykal, executive director of the TI Foundation. "In today's global economy, it is more important than ever before that students leave school with a solid education in the STEM disciplines. We hope these awards will recognize outstanding teachers whose innovative teaching cultivates interest in and builds excitement for these courses among their students."

Kelly Tackett, a Pre-AP algebra teacher at Berkner High School of Richardson ISD, received a Texas Instruments Foundation Innovation in STEM Teaching Award.

Since 2006, the TI Foundation has invested more than $500,000 in this program to enhance effective STEM teaching.

Honorees receive $10,000, half of which is directly awarded to the teacher. The other $5,000 is used at the teacher's discretion for professional development or instructional technology. The grants are awarded through the Richardson ISD Excellence in Education Foundation, the Plano ISD Education Foundation and the Dallas Education Foundation.

In the past, many honorees have used these funds to attend STEM conferences and to procure classroom tools, such as document cameras, projectors, software, interactive whiteboards and graphing calculators.

2011 Honorees
This year's 10 Innovations in STEM Teaching Award recipients were recently inducted into the academy during a reception hosted by TI President and CEO Rich Templeton and TI Foundation Chairman Sam Self.

Principals nominated teachers for the STEM awards based on criteria, such as demonstrating and documenting teaching effectiveness, establishing classroom innovation, participating in education activities outside of the classroom, encouraging curiosity and generating excitement in STEM subjects among students.

2011 Dallas ISD awardees at Texas Instruments Foundation Innovations in STEM Teaching Awards ceremony (left to right): Scheryl Woodward, Yvonne A. Ewell Townview, Dallas ISD; Willy Flores, Hillcrest High School, Dallas ISD; Jason Hogan, Sunset High School, Dallas ISD; Bennett O’Connor, T. Garza Early College High School, Dallas ISD; Toni Legg, Robert T. Hill Middle School, Dallas ISD; and John Long, Woodrow Wilson High School, Dallas ISD. Not pictured: Janetta Taylor, Emmett J. Conrad High School, Dallas ISD.

The 2011 award recipients are:

• Willy Flores, Hillcrest High School, Dallas ISD
• Kathy Fritz, Plano West Senior High School, Plano ISD
• Jason Hogan, Sunset High School, Dallas ISD
• Toni Legg, Robert T. Mills Middle School, Dallas ISD
• John Long, Woodrow Wilson High School, Dallas ISD
• Bennett O'Connor, Trinidad Garza Early College High School, Dallas ISD
• Karen McNeil, Bowman Middle School, Plano ISD
• Kelly Tackett, Berkner High School, Richardson ISD
• Jan Taylor, Emmett Conrad High School, Dallas ISD
• Scheryl Woodard, Yvonne Ewell Townview Center, Dallas ISD