The 2012 Texas Instruments Foundation Innovations in STEM Teaching Awards winners (front row, L-R): Rachel Burnett, W.T. White High School, Dallas ISD; Veronda Washington, Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School, Dallas ISD; Lauren Denison, Forest Meadow Junior High, Richardson ISD; Molly Freid, North Dallas High School, Dallas ISD; and Susan Bourenane, George Bannerman Dealey Montessori and International Academy, Dallas ISD. (Second row, L-R): Michael Jones, Molina High School, Dallas ISD; Jayda Bathchelder, L.V. Stockard Middle School, Dallas ISD; Jennifer Walker, Rice Middle School, Plano ISD; Ashley Lopes, Agnew Middle School, Mesquite ISD; Lisa Ransom, R.S. Kimbrough Middle School, Mesquite ISD; Julie Baker, Plano East Senior High School, Plano ISD; Aaron Baldridge, Science and Engineering Magnet, Dallas ISD with Sam Self, chairman of the TI Foundation.

Teachers help determine the future through their students. With workforce projections showing that 15 of the 20 fastest growing jobs in 2014 will require math or science training, a solid foundation in these subjects is more important than ever to the future of innovation and to the local economy.

To support effective educators, the TI Foundation recently recognized 12 North Texas teachers for their innovative math and science teaching practices with its Innovations in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Teaching Awards.

The program was established six years ago to acknowledge instructors in Dallas, Plano and Richardson Independent School District (ISD) secondary schools who consistently demonstrate quality instruction and enhance student achievement in STEM subjects. This year, the program was expanded to also include teachers from Mesquite ISD.

"We're glad to be able to extend the program this year and recognize the best from four local school districts," said Sam Self, chairman of the TI Foundation. "Education helps determine the health of our region's economy, and building math and science proficiency is critical to having a future technical workforce for North Texas. We depend on quality, innovative teachers who are directly helping students see the relevance of STEM and succeed in these classes, and that's why we want to applaud the area's finest, most effective educators."

Self said that by 2018 there will be 1.2 million job openings in STEM-related fields, but there will be a shortage of people to fill these jobs.

"These teachers are doing so much more than teaching skills — they're inspiring students," he said. "They're building our future workforce, economy and society by inspiring innovation."

Since 2007, the TI Foundation has invested more than $600,000 in the STEM Awards to recognize and help retain excellent teachers in North Texas school districts.

Each honoree receives $10,000, half of which is directly awarded to the teacher. The other $5,000 is to be used at his or her discretion for professional development or instructional technology. The grants are awarded through the Richardson ISD Excellence in Education Foundation, the Plano ISD Education Foundation, the Mesquite ISD 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.

2012 Honorees
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. Teams within each district review the applications and make classroom observations. A list of finalists is then submitted to the districts' foundations, and winners are selected.

The 2012 award recipients are:

Dallas ISD

• Aaron Baldridge, Science and Engineering Magnet.
• Jayda Bathchelder, L.V. Stockard Middle School.
• Susan Bourenane, George Bannerman Dealey Montessori and International Academy.
• Rachel Burnett, W.T. White High School.
• Molly Freid, North Dallas High School.
• Michael Jones, Molina High School.
• Veronda Washington, Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School, Dallas ISD.

• Ashley Lopes, Agnew Middle School.
• Lisa Ransom, R.S. Kimbrough Middle School.

• Julie Baker, Plano East Senior High School.
• Jennifer Walker, Rice Middle School.

• Lauren Denison, Forest Meadow Junior High.