04-03-2025
Okoboji Middle School teacher receives regional 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Award
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCAU) — A teacher from the Okoboji Community School District is one of six recipients of an award from the Iowa Department of Education.
According to a Monday release, Alex Spooner has won the Northwest STEM Region 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Award. He teaches eighth-grade math and serves as STEM Director at Okoboji Middle School.
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'Spooner says he works to make STEM education engaging, inclusive and relevant by tailoring lessons to students' interests including gaming, art and entrepreneurship,' the release states.
The six recipients were announced during a ceremony at the Iowa State Capitol on Monday. The awards, which have been given out since 2015, honor teachers for their work in furthering STEM education in Iowa.
Each winner will receive one $1,500 gift for personal use and another $1,500 gift for classroom use.
You can read the full list of winners below:
Northwest Region – Alex Spooner (Okoboji Middle School)
North Central Region – Tara Grey (Marshalltown High School)
Northeast Region – Dan Kuchera (Clarksville High School)
Southwest Region – Dustan Kern (Lewis Central Middle School)
South Central Region – Maddie Kampf (Irving Elementary)
Southeast Region – Chuck Tonelli (Metro Alternative High School)
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