Awards

KSTA Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award

KSTA presents an award to an elementary (K-5) and secondary (6-12) science teacher at the annual conference.  This award recognizes exemplary science teachers across the state of Kentucky who are helping to advance KSTA's mission of effective and innovative science education.

Eligibility

  • Teachers from grade levels pre-K through grade 12 are eligible if they have at least three years of full-time classroom experience in Kentucky. 
  • Awardees do not have to be a current KSTA member, but will earn complimentary membership for their first year. 
  • Current KSTA Board Members are not eligible. 
  • Past awardees are not eligible.
  • Nominee will complete an application form for award consideration. 

Award

  • Plaque and public recognition at the KSTA annual conference
  • Grant of $500 to use in any way to enhance instruction. Thank you to Amplify for sponsoring the 2024 awards!
  • Complimentary membership in KSTA for one year
  • Complimentary registration for the annual conference (in year award is given)
  • Press release to the newspaper in the awardee’s home community.
  • Awardees are invited to present at least one session at the annual conference regarding the successes of their students and classroom instruction

Nominate a Teacher


KSTA Distinguished Science Educator (Sherry Fox Award)

The Distinguished Science Educator award is named in honor of Sherry Fox and her 29 years of service to KSTA, Jefferson County and the University of Louisville. Sherry spent 29 years in Jefferson County’s public school system--biology, anatomy, physiology, curriculum writing, science method workshops and coordinating Jefferson regional biology teachers. She spent 16 years with UL Biosafety Committee and 13 years as KSTA’s Executive Director.

KSTA presents one Distinguished Science Educator Award at the annual conference. This award recognizes exemplary science leaders across the state of Kentucky who have made significant contributions to science education.

Eligibility

  • Science education professionals from all levels and types of institutions are eligible, such as public or private schools, universities, colleges, non-formal science institutions, and others. 
  • KSTA Board Members are not eligible. 
  • Past awardees are not eligible. 
Award
  • Plaque and public recognition at the KSTA annual conference
  • Grant of $500 to use in any way to enhance instruction.  Thank you to Amplify for sponsoring the 2024 awards!
  • Complimentary membership in KSTA for one year
  • Complimentary registration for the annual conference in the year following the award
  • Press release sent to the newspaper in the awardee's home community 

Nominate an Educator


KSTA Outstanding Principal of the Year Award

This is a new award for the organization. The award recognizes exemplary leadership in support of a highly effective science program by a building level principal. The winner will be recognized at the annual conference in November 2023

Eligibility

  • Building level principals pre-K through grade 12 are eligible for nomination who have worked in partnership with their faculty to support and improve the quality of science teaching and learning in their building.
  • Principal must be nominated by teachers in their building.
  • Nominee will be contacted to complete an application form for award consideration.

Award

  • Plaque and public recognition at the KSTA annual conference
  • Grant of $500 to use in any way to enhance your support of science program. Thank you to Amplify for sponsoring the 2024 award!
  • Complimentary membership in KSTA for one year
  • Complimentary registration for the annual conference (in year award is given)
  • Press release will be sent to the newspaper in the awardee’s home community, to KDE for communication across the state and featured on the front page of the KSTA website.

Nominate a Principal


KSTA Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award

This award recognizes exemplary science teachers across the state of Kentucky who are helping to advance KSTA's mission of effective and innovative science education.

2023 Recipients

Beth Terry, Elementary

Cowan Elementary
Letcher Co.

Melinda Smith

Secondary

Caldwell County Middle School

Previous Winners

 Year Elementary Secondary
 2022
Shad Lacefield, Elementary

Garden Springs Elementary
Fayette Co.

Hallie Booth,
Secondary

Ballyshannon Middle School
Boone Co.
2020 Tiffany Tindle, South Hancock Elementary (Hancock Co.)  Erica Baker, North Washington Elementary (Washington Co.)
2019 NO CONFERENCE
2018 Abigail Guskey, Sandersville Elementary (Fayette Co.)  Angela Marksberry, North Middle School (Henderson Co.) 
 Year Elementary  Middle School  High School 
 2017

Julie Moore

Amanda Underwood

Elizabeth Howard

 2016  Kim Sword & Ellen Allen (not awarded)  Carly Baldwin 

2015

Hillary McWhorter

Ashley Arkwright

Elizabeth Pelphrey

2014

Vivian Bowles

Cindy Combs

Stephanie Harmon

2013

Melinda Kinsel

Ken Mattingly

Catherina Sammons

2012

Kristi Fehr

Ella Bowling

Josh Underwood

2011

 Keri Dowdy

 Donna Ebelhar

 Pennye Rogers

2010

(not awarded)

April Helton

Trina Merrick

2009

 Josh Radner

Brian McDowell 

Viola Randall 

2008

 Andrea Broyles

Melissa Evans

 Danielle Mink

2007

 Ellie Vandivier

 Bethany Hill

Regina Sizemore

2006

Patricia Works

Kathleen Kiffmeyer

Jimmy Dyer

2005

Craig Carter

(not awarded)

Kara Becker

2004

Terry Curran

Kathy Jones

Rae McEntyre

2003

Toni Constable

Tracy Powell-McCoy

Tonya Vowels

2002

Tandy Wellman

Anthony Creed Turner

Dale Faughn

 2001 Jeanetta Caudill Stacy  (not awarded)  Robert Baar 
2000  Linda Lawson  Sharon Ball  Vernon Hicks (Univ.) 
 1999 Jane Thompson  Janet Varon 

Arv Allen (HS)
Ron Atwood (Univ.) 

1998  Bill Hudgens  Jennifer Wilson 
Linda Stephens (HS)
Bob Miller (Univ.) 
 1997 Bonnie Embry & Mary Partin Susie Wera 
Roger Postley (HS)
Ed Story (Univ.) 
1996  Carol Munzy  LInda Pennington  Mohammed Hanif 

Previous to 1996, only one recipient was selected each year

Year

Recipient

Year

Recipient

1974

Harriet A. Korfhage

1976

Clarence Wolf

1977

Sr. Mary Leon Riney

1978

Coris VanCleve

1979

Barbara Wilson

1980

Steven Zimmer

1981

Karl F. Kuhn

1982

Lester Evans

1983

Linda W. Grant

1984

Michael Wavering

1986

Susan Mueller

1988

Earlis Thornberry

1989

Johanna Strange

1991

Lynn Earl Huddleston

1992

Phyllis Shuttleworth

1993

Debbie McKeon

1994

Julie Ritchie

1995

Joyce Phillips

KSTA Distinguished Science Educator Award

The Distinguished Science Educator award is named in honor of Sherry Fox and her 29 years of service to KSTA, Jefferson County and the University of Louisville. Sherry spent 29 years in Jefferson County’s public school system--biology, anatomy, physiology, curriculum writing, science method workshops and coordinating Jefferson regional biology teachers. She spent 16 years with UL Biosafety Committee and 13 years as KSTA’s Executive Director.

KSTA presents one Distinguished Science Educator Award at the annual conference. This award recognizes exemplary science leaders across the state of Kentucky who have made significant contributions to science education.

Previous Winners

Year

Recipient

 2021Dr. Robin Cooper 
 2020Patti Works 
 2019 NO CONFERENCE
 2018  Tom Tretter

2017

Rico Tyler

2016

Melinda Wilder

 2015 Diane Johnson 

2014

Sherry Fox

2013

Vernon Hicks

2012

Carol Hanley

2011

Brian Radcliffe

2008

Sean Elkins

2006

Jackie Hensley

2004

Sally Shafer

 2003 Kim Zeidler
 2002  Karen Kidwell
 2001  Robert Swanson 
 1999  Ben Malphrus
 1998  Johanna Strange
 1997  Karen Lind
 1996  Don Frazier
 1995  Sue Fowler
 1994  Mary Lane
 1993  Mike Howard
 1991 Lester Evans
 1990 Frank Howard
 1989 Brad Matthews
 1986 Gary Boggess
 1984 Dan Ochs
 1983 Ron Fiel
 1982 Ron Atwood
 1981 Harold Crumg
 1980 Steve Henderson
 1979 Truman Stevens 
 1978 Frank Howard 
 1977 Lyn Reynolds 
 1976 Ted George 
 1975 Anna Neal 
 1974 Wendell Cave 

KSTA Outstanding Principal of the Year Award

This new award began in 2022 and recognizes exemplary leadership in support of a highly effective science program by a building level principal. 

2023 Recipient

Pulaski Elementary School

Previous Winners

 Year
 2022

Timothy Wheeler

Lincoln County Middle School


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The Kentucky Science Teachers Association is an affiliated chapter of the National Science Teaching Association
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 23918, Lexington, KY 40523
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