STEM Professor Mike Daugherty Earns Mary Margaret Scobey Award at ITEEA Conference

Photo Submitted

Mike Daugherty, a professor of STEM Education and director of Innovative Career Education at the University of Arkansas, recently received the Mary Margaret Scobey Award at the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association annual conference in Kansas City.

The award is presented to one educator each year by the Elementary STEM Council and is awarded to individuals who have substantially advanced elementary STEM education internationally.

Daugherty said he was honored to receive the award because it recognizes educators who are making a difference in elementary education through the development and implementation of elementary STEM programs, curriculum, and teacher professional development.

"Those are the same things that get me out of bed in the morning," he said. "I can't imagine doing anything more interesting than encouraging young teachers, many of whom were originally terrified of the prospect of teaching math, science, and engineering.

"After a couple of courses, these students are hanging out in the STEM lab and engaging deeply in STEM. Hardly a week goes by that I don't hear about one of our recent elementary STEM graduates developing some extraordinary program for elementary students across the country. That's different than it used to be. That's exciting. That's changing the future."

Daugherty said the award really should have gone to the University of Arkansas.

"The university has really changed everything with the development of our elementary STEM graduate certificate," he said. "So many other universities are now trying to replicate the program. I'm really proud of everyone who helped launch, maintain and expand the program."

Robyn Lane

While at the ITEEA conference, Robyn Lane, a doctoral candidate in the Curriculum and Instruction Ph.D program -- with an emphasis in STEM -- received the Maley Outstanding Graduate Student citation. The award is presented annually to an outstanding Ph.D. graduate student in the nation. Robyn is currently completing her second Ph.D. and plans to focus on teacher professional development in STEM instruction. She is currently teaching a graduate course in the Elementary STEM Graduate Certificate program and conducting research with Daugherty and Vinson Carter - who's also a STEM education professor.

"She's a very talented and engaged Ph.D. candidate who is already making a substantial difference in the program," Daugherty said.