Oregon Science Teachers Association

CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE TEACHING

2025 Awardees!

Awards were presented at the Oregon Coast Aquarium

Saturday, October 10, 2025

Please join us in celebrating our colleagues and everyone's commitment to science education.

2025 OSTA Outstanding Teaching Awardees

One of the most important functions of the Oregon Science Teachers Association is to recognize outstanding science educators across the state. Each year the OSTA Executive Board selects several individuals for statewide and regional awards. The Awardees are selected by committee from individuals nominated by members of OSTA.

Name	Region	School or District

Amy Applegate	Frontier Region	Willowcreek Elementary, Vale, OR

Alyssa Powell Gianotti	Mid-Valley Region	South Shore Elementary, Albany, OR

Emily Olson	Frontier Region	Nyssa Elementary, Nyssa, OR

Faith Forshee	Oregon Coast Region	Crestview Heights Elementary, Waldport, OR

Laura Haspela	Columbia Gorge Region	Hood River Valley HS, Hood River, OR

John Moyes	Frontier Region	Nyssa Middle School, Nyssa, OR

Coulter Rose	Mid-Valley Region	Linus Pauling MS, Corvallis, OR

Heidi Lent	Oregon Coast Region	Warrenton MS, Warrenton, OR

Brian Anglin	Columbia Gorge Region	Wheeler HS, Fossil, OR

Jorge Alberto Mendieta	Frontier Region	Four Rivers Community School, Ontario, OR

Alice Eldridge	Mid-Valley Region	Philomath HS, Philomath, OR

Christina Geierman	Oregon Coast Region	North Bend HS, North Bend, OR

Suzanna Kruger	Oregon Coast Region	Seaside HS, Seaside, OR

David Savage	Portland Metro Region	Century HS, Hillsboro, OR

Kiara Ramsay	South-Metro-Salem Region	McNary HS, Keizer, OR

Statewide Awards

Distinguished Service to Science Education Award

This award is intended to honor those individuals who, as classroom teachers, have made significant contributions to science teaching in their own classrooms and beyond. The awardee was selected based on career longevity and body of work, statewide and regional influence, enthusiasm for science, and the ability to motivate students and colleagues alike.

Michael Giamellaro

OSU Cascades

Mike Giamellaro has an uncanny knack for connecting with his teacher candidates. The confidence that he has in his students' potential engenders confidence within themselves. Mike has a way of making you feel capable and that anything is possible, with a little effort, or sometimes a lot of effort! In this, Mike is honest with his students and ensures that they are grounded in reality, but encourages them to dream. Finally, Mike is the warmest of demanders whom I've ever had the pleasure of learning and working with. He holds his students to the absolute highest of expectations, and while they may not realize or appreciate it in the moment, they will meet and often exceed those expectations to walk away immeasurably better for the experience. Thank you Mike, for your mentorship, continued friendship, and dedication to the next generation of science educators.

The Sunrise Scholarship

The Sunrise Scholarship Award was established by long-time OSTA Board Member, Lynn Mitchell. Lynn was a science teacher at Hood River High school, and spent many years on the OSTA board in a number of capacities. His vision for this scholarship was to support early career teachers to get involved with their professional organization, take advantage of the resources available through being a member, and setting the stage for the next generation of science leaders in OSTA. The Sunrise Scholarship is used to pay registration to attend the next two (2) OSTA Statewide Conferences, and a 2-year membership in OSTA.

Maya Treder

Lane School District

Maya is an outstanding educator that strives for authentic learning opportunities for middle school students by incorporating research methodologies and discourse used in her own time spent working in an ecology research lab.

She works to level the playing field for all students to access the world of science, especially girls and our English learners by focusing on various notable women in science and scientists from under-represented backgrounds.

Students of all ability levels come out of her class as better writers and advocates for science. She focuses on critical thinking and encourages students to dive deeper to strengthen their understanding.

Amina Senge

Portland Public Schools

Amina is an incredible middle school science teacher. She is known for her organization, high and clear expectations, and is always willing to try something new. In addition to learning all 7th and 8th science units from the district's science kits over the last four years, Amina has taken on additional projects beyond the scope and scale typically expected of newer teachers. Hoyt Arboretum received a significant grant to work with middle school students around climate change, particularly the Western Red Cedar, an indicator species. This partnership has bloomed into a lasting project, going into its third year. Amina instituted Watershed Wednesdays, weekly trips to Mt Tabor to study our local environment, and is the adult facilitator for our school’s Botany and Science Club which focuses on building student voice and leadership around climate change and climate justice in cooperation with PPS’s Sustainability department and PGE’s Clean Energy Fund. Amina is a wonderful early career teacher!

The NGSS Team Award

As Dr. Okhee Lee said, NGSS implementation is a relay, and the strongest runners - the classroom teachers - take the baton over the finish line. OSTA has created the NGSS Team Award to honor the incredible teamwork happening at schools and districts statewide. This award will be given to a team of K-12 teachers who are sharing the work of implementing NGSS-aligned curriculum and assessment at their school or in their district.

Dana Spink

Sandy Mummey

Charissa Stair

Elementary Science Teachers

Lane County SD

This past year the Elementary Science Implementation Team did not just adopt science curriculum (which the district hadn't done for elementary science in 20 years!), but they decided to prioritize equitable lab and field experiences for all elementary students in the district. They engaged partner organizations and have been building a plan that will see each grade level focused on a different outdoor habitat and theme. Each grade level has a group of different partners who manage habitats/ecosystems in that team. For example, first grade students in Lincoln City will focus on the same ecosystem as first grade students in Waldport, but will have different locations to which they travel for field work. In addition, the SEPs and CCCs are connected to their hands-on learning, helping teachers integrate the NGSS with place-based experiences.

PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE TEACHING

The Presidential Award is the nation's highest honor for teachers of mathematics and science (including computer science). Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science education. The following teachers have been selected as national and state finalists.

2025 State Finalists

	Alfonso Garcia Arriola	ACCESS Academy	Portland Public Schools
	Matt McCollum	Mountainside HS	Beaverton School District

Nominations alternate between teachers in K-6 and in 7-12. For more information on how to nominate an outstanding science teacher for this award, go to: https://paemst.nsf.gov/

971-361-OSTA

4110 SE Hawthorne Blvd, #1025
Portland, Oregon
97214

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