Supers accepts award for integrative STEM

Manchester first-grade teacher Ellen Supers accepts her award from MiSTEM Region 2 at a Recognition Banquet held at Washtenaw Community College.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workers play a key role in the sustained growth of the world economy. Increasing science literacy and enabling a new generation of innovators, is a huge responsibility placed on educators today.

STEM teaching and learning engages students to equip them with critical thinking, problem solving, creative and collaborative skills. This ultimately establishes connections between the school, work place, the community, and the global economy. Integrating all of that into everyday lessons starting in pupils’ earliest educational experiences is a challenge most teachers face today, and Manchester Community Schools’ own Ellen Supers, a first-grade teacher at Klager Elementary School, has been awarded as the “2020 Integration Educator of the Year” by MiSTEM Region 2 (Hillsdale, Lenawee, Jackson, Livingston, Washtenaw, and Monroe Counties) after being nominated by former Klager principal, Jennifer Mayes. The award recognizes an educator who primarily teaches outside of traditional STEM-fields and who has a consistent record of integrating STEM-principles and high quality STEM-related experiences for students.

Educators need research-based professional learning resources and networks of support to provide robust STEM learning experiences for students, according to the MiSTEM website. As a result, Supers will receive a $1,000 grant for expanding STEM exposure for her students and to assist in the pursuit of excellence in STEM education at Klager.

Supers was accompanied to the banquet last Thursday by her fellow teacher, Kathy O’Mara. O’Mara said that in her acceptance speech, Supers acknowledged the support of her colleagues and administrators in thanking MiSTEM for the award.

O’Mara added, “Ellen likes to think that STEM is a ‘we thing’–that all teachers play a role in the process.”

Supers was also feted at the banquet by Kevin Upton, interim Superintendent of Manchester Community Schools.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.