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EDUCATION

D-backs salute 3 STEM teachers from Surprise

Dysart educators earn MVT award

Posted 6/2/22

Three Dysart Unified School District teachers working in schools in Surprise were recently named D-backs Most Valuable Teachers in STEM by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

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EDUCATION

D-backs salute 3 STEM teachers from Surprise

Dysart educators earn MVT award

Posted

Three Dysart Unified School District teachers working in schools in Surprise were recently named D-backs Most Valuable Teachers in STEM by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Huda Clemens from Western Peaks Elementary School received the honor along with Canyon Ridge School teachers Stefanie Lump and Lacey Merritt.

This recognition supports 10 educators monthly from April through August and provides an opportunity to showcase the state’s teachers and acknowledge their commitment to students for going above and beyond.

Below are excerpts from each nomination letter:

• Clemons was nominated by Lisa Garon.

“She certainly deserves to be recognized for all her extra time, patience and desire to help students become better in the area of STEM,” Garon said.

“Mrs. Clemens is our iExplore teacher and also runs an after-school Robotics Club. Since she designs and records the morning announcements for our building, she engages our students in those so they can be a part of the process.”

• Lump was nominated by Justean Palmer.

“Mrs. Lump inspires students on a daily basis as she teaches STEM to her fifth-graders,” Palmer said.

“She supports all the teachers at Canyon Ridge with their Scientific Process, giving them ideas for STEM buckets with kindergarten classrooms and unique STEM projects with the upper-grade levels. Her students build STEM projects monthly and she is our main contact for the Society of Automotive Engineers: A World in Motion program where retired engineers from General Motors provide valuable presentations to our students.”

• Merritt was also nominated by Palmer.

“Lacey Merritt is a remarkable STEM educator and leader,” Palmer said.

“Being the instructional coach on campus, I see the dedication she has put into building our STEM program from attending workshops to teaching what STEM truly means, supporting teachers in the Engineering Design Process and challenging the students’ thinking at Canyon Ridge. Her students thrive through her hands-on STEM projects that push their understanding of the human body to building structures that withstand a hurricane, all while being able to utilize the design and redesign process.”

The educators received a $1,000 classroom grant courtesy of the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and Honeywell. Additionally, the educators received tickets to a recent Diamondbacks game and on-field recognition.

They will be considered for the Most Valuable Teacher of the Year, which includes a $5,000 classroom grant and on-field recognition.