Governor´s Industry Award for Notable Teaching in STEM Award (GIANTS)

2012 GIANTS Winners

GIANTS 2012 Receipients

2012 GIANTS Recipients pictured: First Lady Lori Otter honored the state's top educators in science, technology, engineering and mathematics April 10 at the State Capital Governor's Office. The three teachers singled out for excellence were: Dick Jordan of Timberline High School in Boise; Jason George of Vision Charter School in Caldwell; Gifted and Talented teacher Elizabeth Brubaker of Lakeland School District in Rathdrum.

They all received $2,000 at the awards ceremony for the Governor's Industry Award for Notable Teaching in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math - also known as the GIANTS program. Three other teachers received honorable mentions. They were Paul Shaber at Fruitland High School; Mike Stansel at Rocky Mountain Middle School in Idaho Falls; and Tauna Johnson at Genesee Elementary School in Genesee. Each received $500. Nominations came through school student councils and/or parent groups for emphasizing science as an "exciting, challenging and relevant" subject. Cash prizes went to each school/student council that nominated award recipients. The GIANTS program was developed by the governor's office. It is sponsored by the Science and Technology Roundtable, which includes the Micron Foundation, Idaho Power Company, LCF Enterprises, URS, Idaho National Laboratory and Hewlett-Packard. The Idaho State Department of Education, the Office of the State Board of Education and the Discovery Center of Idaho also support the GIANTS program.

Overview

A coalition of Idaho´s leading industries is soliciting nominations for the 12th annual GIANTS Award that will recognize teachers who integrate real life applications of science and technology in their classrooms. We are seeking nominations for this award. Note: In secondary schools, nominations must be from student councils.

Nominations for 2013 are due by February 27, 2013.

PDF Icon Secondary Information 2013
PDF Icon Elementary Information 2013
PDF Icon Resume Template 2013
Nominations for 2013 must include:

1. A copy of the nominated teacher´s resume that you are nominating. Each resume must include the following information:

  • Education background
  • Professional memberships
  • Student organizations
  • Special programs used in the classroom to enhance science learning
  • Curriculum, academic, or professional leadership roles
  • Resumes longer than two pages can detract from the competitiveness of the application.

2. A letter of support from your school´s principal. This letter should include or address:

  1. A statement of support for the completed application packet.
  2. The science/technology connection the nominated teacher brings to the classroom through: internships, use of guest speakers, or some other tangible connections between the material taught in the classroom and its application in the larger world of science and technology. Special attention will be given to teachers connecting with business and industry.

3. Elementary: Two letters of support from the following:

  1. One letter from a student or group of students, either currently in the teacher´s class or who have been in the past, stating the impact of the nominated teacher or teacher team in fostering connections between the classroom and the real world by utilizing resources from business and technology.
  2. One letter from a parent discussing the value and impact of the nominee´s science program.

    Secondary: A letter from your student council demonstrating:

  1. A description of activities implemented by the teacher that fosters real world connections between science and technology and the material covered in the classroom. How does the teacher help students realize the value of science beyond the classroom? How does the teacher utilize resources from business and technology?
  2. Evidence of impact the nominated teacher has had on opening the world of science and technology to students. Suitable examples would include: increased enrollment in subsequent science classes, numbers of students expressing an interest in a science/technology career path as a result of this teacher, etc.

Submit five copies of your application materials arranged in the order listed above and send them to the State Department of Education, 650 W State Street, Boise, ID 83720 postmarked no later than February 27, 2013. Disclaimer: If any portion of the application is incomplete, the nomination will be void.

Recognition

The governor will present the GIANTS award, which includes a $2,500 cash prize, to an elementary teacher, a middle school teacher, and a high school teacher in Idaho early in the spring of 2013. The nominating student council for all awardees will receive a cash stipend of $500.

Also, one teacher at the elementary, middle and high school will receive an Honorable Mention award. The teacher so recognized will receive a cash prize of $500 and the nominating student council will receive a $100 cash stipend.

GIANTS is proudly sponsored by the Governor's Office, Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Micron Foundation, Washington Division of URS, Hewlett-Packard Company, Idaho Power, LCF Enterprises, Discovery Center of Idaho, Idaho State Department of Education, Idaho State Board of Education, and the Idaho Commerce and Labor's Office of Science and Technology

Questions

If you have any questions as you prepare your school´s application, please feel free to contact Scott Smith via e-mail at smsmith@sde.idaho.gov, Marilyn Allen at mallen@sde.idaho.gov or via phone at 208.332.6974. We look forward to receiving your school´s nomination for GIANTS and the opportunity to recognize the teachers who are making science education in Idaho real and exciting!