NCSS Innovation Awards

The NCSS Innovation Awards Program recognizes the nation’s most innovative teachers, programming and partnerships!

2026 Awards Nominations are Open!

Help us recognize the people, programs, partnerships, and systems advancing STEM education.

The National Consortium of STEM Schools (NCSS) is now accepting nominations for its 2026 awards, celebrating outstanding innovation, leadership, collaboration, and impact across the STEM education community.

This year, NCSS is expanding its awards program with two new honors — Innovative District of the Year and Emerging Leader — joining three established awards recognizing exceptional STEM programs, educators, and partnerships.

Nomination Deadline: Friday, October 9, 2026

Nominations are open for:

Innovative STEM Student Program

Recognizing an outstanding STEM program that provides students with rigorous, relevant, and innovative learning experiences that inspire curiosity, build skills, and prepare them for future opportunities.
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Innovative STEM Teacher of the Year

Celebrating an exceptional educator whose innovative teaching practices engage students in meaningful STEM learning and demonstrate a commitment to excellence in STEM education.
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Innovative Partnership

Recognizing an exemplary partnership that brings schools together with industry, higher education, community organizations, or other collaborators to create meaningful STEM opportunities for students.
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NEW: Innovative District of the Year

Recognizing a district or charter network demonstrating systemic, sustainable STEM innovation across its schools. This award honors a comprehensive commitment to rigorous and relevant learning, expanded student access and opportunity, strong partnerships, educator capacity, and measurable student outcomes.
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NEW: Emerging Leader Award

Recognizing a classroom teacher in the first five years of their career who is already making a meaningful impact through innovative STEM instruction. This award celebrates early-career educators who demonstrate leadership, inclusive practice, professional growth, and a commitment to preparing students for the future.
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Who Is Advancing STEM Education in Your Community?

Great STEM education takes many forms. It may be a teacher transforming what happens in the classroom, a student program creating extraordinary learning opportunities, a partnership connecting students with the world beyond school, or a district building an innovative STEM ecosystem at scale.

Help NCSS recognize the people and programs leading that work.

Review the eligibility requirements and nomination criteria for each award and submit your nomination by Friday, October 9, 2026.

Past Award Winners

Recognizing inventiveness in STEM student programming at member schools

  • 2025 Winners (Tie): Humanities 4000: Experience in Entrepreneurship (North Carolina School of Science and Math) and Innovating Wellness: A Student-Led STEM Summit for Balance and Growth (Rockdale Magnet School for Science & Technology)
  • 2024 Winner: STEAM Houses Program (Fulton Science Academy)
  • 2023 Winner: Astronomy Society of Fulton Science Academy
  • 2022 Winner: TJ Space (Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology)
  • 2021 Winner: Ryden Program for Innovation and Leadership in Artificial Intelligence (North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics)
  • 2020 Winner: IMSA STEM League (Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy)
  • 2019 Winner: Rockdale Magnet School of Science and Technology for their Peer Mentors entry.

Recognizing teacher inventiveness in the classroom

  • 2025 Winner: Dr. Gregory Horesovsky (Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School)
  • 2024 Winner: Dr. Elaine Parshall (South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics)
  • 2023 Winner: Dr. Elisa Rambo (Alabama School of Mathematics and Science)
  • 2022 Winner: Sarah Holmes (St. Teresa’s Academy)
  • 2021 Winner: Angela Taricco (Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science)
  • 2020 Winner: Dr. Whitney Holden (Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts)

This was a new award for 2020!

Recognizing inventiveness in partnerships between member schools, local businesses, corporations, and/or post-secondary institutions

  • 2025 Winner: Innovating Space Education, Fulton Science Academy
  • 2024 Winner: Port of Seattle Environmental Challenge Project, Raisbeck Aviation High Schools
  • 2023 Winners: (tie): From Seeds to Shoreline, South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics AND The Manne Institute, The Bronx High School of Science
  • 2022 Winner: GSST W&M AIRduino Atmospheric Aerosol Monitoring (New Horizon’s Governors School)
  • 2021 Winner: Career Challenge: Math at Work! (Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy)
  • 2020 Winner: Gatton Academy – Cloudbridge International STEM Field Research Partnership (Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky)
  • 2019 Winner: Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts for their Research in the Park entry.