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2009 Texas Instruments Foundation Innovations in STEM Teaching Award Winners
Frankford & Bowman Teachers Earn Prestigious Honor
April 8, 2009
Teachers Stephanie Schinnerer and Michele Poovey are recipients of the 2009 Texas Instruments Foundation Innovations in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Teaching Awards.
Teachers Stephanie Schinnerer and Michele Poovey (l-r) were presented with 2009 STEM Awards at the April 7 meeting of the Plano ISD Board of Trustees. Pictured in the background are (l-r) Trustee John Muns and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Doug Otto.
The two winners each earned $5,000 cash awards and $5,000 for classroom technology and professional development from the Texas Instruments Foundation. Four additional Plano ISD teachers were honored as STEM finalists.
Michele Poovey - STEM Winner
Frankford Middle School 6th Grade Science
Michele works to provide a classroom in which her students are safe to learn and express themselves; she encourages critical thinking, creative expressions and questioning. Michele’s philosophy is that, "Facts may be forgotten but the desire and thirst for knowledge and the love of learning last forever," and she hopes to instill that in her students. Michele’s classroom is truly electric.
Stephanie Schinnerer - STEM Winner
Bowman Middle School 6th Grade Regular and Honors
Mathematics
Stephanie is a talented and nurturing teacher who has enhanced student achievement and increased student interest in math. When you first walk into her room, there is no mistake that she is a math teacher—student work is displayed and colorful vocabulary words brighten the walls. Her principal said it best: “Her caring, 'can do' spirit seems infectious as students remain hopefully on task pioneering the difficult world of fractions, decimals and probability.”
STEM Award Winners (seated, l-r) are Stephanie Schinnerer and Michele Poovey. STEM Award Finalists and award officials are (standing, l-r) Torrence Robinson, TI director of public affairs; Finalist Whitney Evans, Dr. Jim Wussow, PISD secondary academic services executive director; Finalists Susan Appleton and Kelly Reichenberger; Monica Shortino, Plano ISD Education Foundation executive director; Finalist Kathy Fritz; Dr. Jim Wohlgehagen, PISD secondary mathematics coordinator; and Linda Flack, PISD secondary science coordinator.
STEM Award Finalists
Each of the following four finalists received $500 cash awards from the Plano ISD Education Foundation.
Susan Appleton - STEM Finalist
Jasper High School Chemistry I and Pre-AP Chemistry I
 Susan is an innovative leader of students and of her fellow teachers. She delights in sharing her fascination and enthusiasm for science with her students. She explains that chemistry is an abstract course but by making it more “do-able” students can prove their ideas through labs or link a complicated idea to something they have seen on the internet, a movie, book or television show. Susan works with her students to incorporate many hand’s on activities and real world examples.
Whitney Evans - STEM Finalist
Wilson Middle School 8th Grade Mathematics Department Head
 A strong leader and visionary teacher, Whitney says that her role in the classroom is to explain a mathematical concept to a student in a way that he or she has never heard before and add emphasis on making connections between mathematics and the real world. Whitney over the last 10 years has helped pilot, revise and implement Connected Mathematics on the curriculum writing team.
Kathy Fritz - STEM Finalist
 Plano West Senior High School AP Statistics and Algebra II
A teacher who is excellent at instructing, supporting and connecting with students, Kathy says that the learning environment in her classroom is such that students feel free to ask questions and discuss topics. She encourages creative explorations and investigations while students are actively developing the mathematical concepts.
 Kelly Reichenberger - STEM Finalist
Vines High School 9th and 10th Grade Biology
A teacher who strives to go beyond the basics to reach every learner, Kelly believes that the more connections her students make the more likely they are to remember information. She uses various activities and strategies to reach her students. She works to foster a positive sense of community in her classroom.
Presentation Remarks were made by Jim Hirsch, associate superintendent for academic and technology services; Ralph Stow, president of the Plano ISD Education Foundation; Dr. Jim Wussow, Plano ISD executive director of secondary curriculum; and Torrence Robinson, director of public affairs for Texas Instruments.
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"The high caliber of teacher nominees was amazing and reaffirms that Plano ISD teachers are among the most talented professionals in the country."
-Dr. Jim Wussow, Plano ISD Secondary Academic Services Executive Director
"We know that these teachers will inspire others to foster enthusiasm and generate excitement about science, technology and mathematics as they work with their students and among their colleagues."
-Torrence Robinson, TI Director of Public Affairs
"Supporting improvement of STEM education, the Texas Instruments Foundation offered our Foundation and district the opportunity to recognize outstanding teachers of these secondary STEM courses, making a $60,000 three-year pledge in creation of the TI Foundation Innovations in STEM Teaching Awards. This is the third year of the execution of that award program, with six finalists and two recipients to be named this evening."
-Ralph Stow, Plano ISD Education Foundation President
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