DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Education and the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council today announced six teachers as the 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Award recipients during a ceremony at the Iowa State Capitol. Each awardee represents one of Iowa’s six STEM regions.
“The Governor’s STEM Advisory Council exists to increase student interest and achievement in STEM and inspire Iowa’s next generation of innovators,” Gov. Reynolds said. “This work wouldn’t be possible without amazing STEM teachers who help ensure our students are equipped for the careers waiting for them across our state. I commend each of our 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Award recipients and it was a pleasure to present these awards during the STEM Day at the Capitol event.”
The annual award honors six teachers across the state for their contribution and dedication to STEM education in Iowa and who work to inspire a passion for science, technology, engineering and math with their students.
“Iowa’s 2025 STEM Teacher awardees represent excellence in STEM instruction and experiential learning, spanning mathematics, science, computer science, agriculture and more,” said Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow. “These dedicated teachers create engaging learning experiences for students and illuminate in-demand STEM career opportunities. We thank the 2025 STEM Teacher awardees and their colleagues across Iowa for the expertise, commitment, and care they demonstrate in their classrooms and communities each day.”
Now, in its 11th year, the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council and the Department of Education are excited to announce that the Iowa STEM Teacher Award will now be sponsored by Google. Kemin Industries was the program sponsor for the past 10 years and continues to host and support teacher externships.
“At Google, we see the importance of having a strong foundation in STEM education every day,” said Dan Harbeke, regional head of public policy and external affairs at Google. “We are thrilled to partner with Iowa STEM moving forward to sponsor the Iowa STEM Teacher Award and honor these extraordinary educators who are on the front lines of developing our future leaders and innovators every day.”
Nominations were submitted by administrators, teachers, counselors, families, students and other STEM advocates across the state. Each of the teacher nominees were then given the opportunity to submit an application to showcase their work and curriculum. Following a review and selection process, the following six Iowa STEM teachers were chosen as 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Award recipients, recognizing the significant difference they are making in the lives of students.
Northwest STEM Region 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Award Recipient: Alex Spooner
Spooner, an eighth grade mathematics teacher and STEM Director at Okoboji Middle School, is in his tenth year of teaching at Okoboji Middle School. Spooner says he works to make STEM education engaging, inclusive and relevant by tailoring lessons to students' interests including gaming, art and entrepreneurship.
North Central STEM Region 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Award Recipient: Tara Gray
Gray, an agriculture science teacher at Marshalltown High School, is in her ninth year of teaching. As a fifth generation farmer still involved in her family farm, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her agriculture lessons. Gray believes in a hands-on learning approach, striving to provide real-life experiences to advance student understanding and make relevant connections to everyday life.
Northeast STEM Region 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Award Recipient: Dan Kuchera
Kuchera, a science teacher at Clarksville High School, has over 40 years of experience helping students explore various STEM disciplines. From astronomy, meteorology and anatomy to chemistry, physics and more, Kuchera builds projects into lessons to increase their understanding and provide opportunities for creative challenges.
Southwest STEM Region 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Award Recipient: Dustan Kern
Kern, a STEM teacher at Lewis Central Middle School in Council Bluffs, has been teaching mathematics, science and computer-related courses for 25 years. He prides himself on constantly improving and evolving his teaching to involve the latest technology and community partners to better prepare students for careers and college.
South Central STEM Region 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Award Recipient: Maddie Kampf
Kampf, a science teacher at Irving Elementary in Indianola, has over 10 years of experience teaching in Iowa classrooms. Kampf began her career in a museum setting, which ignited her passion for inquiry-based education and carries with her as an elementary educator aiming to build a strong STEM foundation for young learners.
Southeast STEM Region 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Award Recipient: Chuck Tonelli
Tonelli, a science teacher and STEAM Academy Coordinator at Metro Alternative High School in Cedar Rapids, is working on his 20th year with the district. Tonelli involves numerous community partners in a variety of projects and helps students participate in real-world experiences that afford students the opportunity to network and build soft skills.
"The STEM Council is proud to honor impactful Iowa teachers through this award," said Justin Lewis, bureau chief for Iowa STEM. "We are grateful for all our educators and the role they play in inspiring and supporting students as they explore in-demand STEM fields. We are thrilled to partner with Google this year to honor these six deserving teachers and we look forward to continuing to celebrate STEM education across the state."
The Iowa STEM Teacher Award is presented annually to one full-time, licensed PK-12 teacher in each of the six STEM regions in Iowa. The award honors teachers making a difference in the lives of students across the state by providing excellent curriculum, encouraging lifelong learning and inspiring a passion for STEM beyond the classroom and into the future. Each awardee receives a monetary gift for their classroom and second for personal use.