The Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at the Iowa Department of Education is partnering with Google for the 2026 Iowa STEM Teacher Award. 

The nomination process was announced at the Iowa State Fair during STEM Day and nominations will be accepted through Wednesday, Oct. 22.

Now in its 12th year, the Iowa STEM Teacher Award recognizes one full-time, licensed PK-12 teacher from each of the state’s six STEM regions whose passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) motivates their students to develop a lifelong interest in STEM fields—both in and out of the classroom. 

The six selected recipients will each receive an award of $1,500 for their classrooms and $1,500 for personal use. 

Nominees will be given the opportunity to submit an application to showcase their work and curriculum. Following a review and selection process, six Iowa STEM teachers will be chosen. 

Additional information on the Iowa STEM Teacher Award, including past awardees, can be found on the Iowa Department of Education’s website. The award recipients will be announced in early 2026.

In 2023 Lone Tree business and computer science teacher Jessica Howard received the award.