The Museum of Aviation’s National STEM Academy in Warner Robins, Georgia has selected Jaime Punjabi, a third grade teacher at Hendersonville Elementary in Dekalb County, as the Museum’s first 2013-2014 STEM Teacher of the Year. Punjabi was nominated by the school’s principal, Rebecca Jackson.
Jackson said, “Mrs. Punjabi has built a classroom of trust. Her third graders know that they can make a mistake or that their project doesn’t have to work the first time and that is O.K. She encourages her students to work up to their potential and holds everyone to the highest standards. This translates to an enjoyment of STEM for her students.”
Three judges carefully reviewed the 10 applications that were submitted. Judges were Tony Docal who has worked with NASA Education programs for over 25 years, Edwin Mills who is a Master STEM Teacher in Bay County, Fla., and Amy Hudnall who is the Deputy Director of the Georgia Center of Innovation for Aerospace.
Melissa Spalding, Director of Education at the Museum of Aviation, visited Punjabi’s classroom and took a tour of Henderson Mill Elementary.
“Mrs. Punjabi’s sincere effort to enrich the lives of her students through interactive STEM learning is evident. Her students are actively engaged in STEM daily. I was inspired by the STEM learning occurring in Mrs. Punjabi’s classroom.”
The award prizes will be given at the Georgia NASA Teacher’s STEM Day on Sept. 28 at the Museum of Aviation, Warner Robins. The Georgia NASA Teacher’s STEM Day is a professional development training program for educators and will include a luncheon.
The STEM Teacher of the Year announcement will be awarded during the luncheon in the Century of Flight Hangar at the Museum of Aviation. Prizes will include $1,000 to Punjabi and $1,000 to Henderson Mill Elementary School. Teachers that would like to register for the Georgia NASA Teacher’s STEM Day should visit the museum’s website at www.museumofaviation.org and fill out the online registration. Cost is $15.
PHOTO: Jaime Punjabi, third from left, poses with students in her third-grade class at Henderson Elementary School in DeKalb County, Georgia. Punjabi was selected as 2013-2014 STEM Teacher of the Year by the National Stem Academy at the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, Georgia.
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