Tracy Vassiliev, a teacher at James F. Doughty School, is one of ten middle school educators from across the United States selected to participate in the esteemed National STEM Scholar Program. This unique professional development initiative offers advanced training in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), along with opportunities for national networking and project support for middle school science teachers.
The National STEM Scholar Program, a collaboration between the National Stem Cell Foundation and The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science at Western Kentucky University (WKU), selects ten teachers annually from a national pool based on their proposed “big idea” Challenge Projects. These projects are intended to have a significant impact in middle school classrooms, where research indicates students are forming lifelong STEM career decisions.
Scholars will convene at WKU for a week of rigorous STEM training, finalizing their projects with insights from their peers. “I love teaching STEM to middle schoolers because it can open doors to futures that students hadn’t imagined for themselves, especially those who may not see themselves as ‘traditional’ scientists,” Vassiliev noted. “STEM projects strengthen computational thinking skills, build confidence, foster creativity, and spark curiosity, which are essential for any future path they choose.”
The 2025 National STEM Scholar class will be hosted by The Gatton Academy from May 25 to May 31 at WKU in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The selected teachers are:
Melanie Davis Hardy (Bentonia, Miss.) – Yazoo County Middle School
Lalita Khemka (Katy, Texas) – Cardiff Junior High School
Renae Lewis (Salmon, Idaho) – Salmon Junior/Senior High School
Aprille’ Morris-Butler (Charlotte, N.C.) – Trinity Episcopal School
Yevgeny Pevzner (West Valley City, Utah) – Kearns Junior High School
Joshua Reese (Hazelwood, Mo.) – Ferguson Middle School
Jo Slavitz (Hampton Falls, N.H.) – Dover Middle School
Tracy Vassiliev (Bangor, Maine) – James F. Doughty School
Michael Vigeant (Lafayette, Tenn.) – Macon County Junior High School
Alexandria Wicker (Melbourne, Fla.) – DeLaura Middle School
Studies have shown that middle school students who develop an interest in science are more likely to pursue STEM courses in high school and beyond. However, nearly 50% of 8th graders in the U.S. lose interest in these subjects at a critical point in their educational journey.
Dr. Paula Grisanti, CEO of the National Stem Cell Foundation, emphasized the importance of supporting teachers at this pivotal stage: “By investing in the influential middle school STEM teacher now, we reach thousands of students in classrooms today and far into the future.”
Dr. Julia Link Roberts, Executive Director of The Gatton Academy, added, “The National STEM Scholar Program is an excellent way for teachers to learn new strategies and engage students, helping them remain interested in science and math.”
Now in its 10th year, the program has produced 100 National STEM Scholars from 37 states. Notably, 93% of these educators teach in public schools, with 44% in mid- to high-poverty areas, and 39% in communities with populations under 15,000.
A key requirement of the program is for STEM Scholars to share their insights and lessons with colleagues in their home schools, magnifying the program's impact across classrooms. By June 2026, it is anticipated that National STEM Scholars will have directly and indirectly influenced over 190,000 middle school students nationwide.