A teacher at Lone Tree Community Schools was named the southeast Iowa STEM Teacher of the Year
Thunderous applause rang out from students and staff at Lone Tree Community School Thursday for Jessica Howard, who’d just been announced the southeast Iowa STEM Teacher of the Year by the Iowa Governor’s STEM advisory council.
Every year, the council awards six teachers across Iowa for their “contribution and dedication to STEM education in Iowa,” according to the advisory council.
Howard, who is in her seventh year with Lone Tree Community Schools, is a business teacher and was awarded $3,000, half of which is to be used towards her classroom.
Why Howard was nominated
Bridget Mahoney, who teaches at Williamsburg High School and previously taught at Lone Tree Community Schools, nominated Howard.
Though she is a business teacher, Howard teaches science, technology, engineering, math and incorporates it all into her curriculum, Mahoney said.
“All these kids have a connection to her because she not only teaches, but she just builds relationships with her students so well," Mahoney said. "They can trust her, they feel comfortable with her."
Howard, who won the award on her first nomination, provides her students unique learning opportunities by partnering with STEM stakeholders and community members, and uses her experience in the STEM Teacher Externships Program, in which educators work with industry employees in the summer, to further students’ learning, according to a news release.
The Muscatine-based teacher was surprised with the award at Lone Tree Community School’s gym Thursday afternoon.
“(I’m) really just honored,” Howard said. “I never thought it would be me.”
How Howard has made an impact on these two students
Ella Buser, a senior, took her first class with Howard when she was in sixth grade, though she has since taken many business classes taught by Howard.
“It inspired me right away to take business to the next level after high school,” said Busner, who’ll be attending the University of Northern Iowa for business after high school.
Buser said Howard is “an inspirer.”
“She treats everybody the same, and she’s just the greatest human I probably know from Lone Tree,” Buser said.
Braden Viers, also a senior, was a previous student of Howard’s, though he said he frequently goes to her for help, especially as he seeks a career in engineering.
It’s through Howard that he has a job shadow opportunity in Muscatine, Viers said.
“If I have a question, she’s just right there,” he said. “She’s just an amazing person to talk to.”
Howard worked for 11 years at the mobile company UScellular, where she realized her passion was teaching people, she said.
It was through the RAPIL program, the Regents Alternative Pathway to Iowa Licensure that provides a pathway for professionals to teach, that Howard applied at Lone Tree Community Schools, where she’s worked ever since.
Howard is an advisor for the Lone Tree chapter of the National Honor Society, coaches Lone Tree’s esports team and is an advisor the Lone Tree chapter of Business Professionals of America, just a few of her many responsibilities.
“I think we’re all just grateful that Ms. Howard has dedicated her time and energy to the students here and the community,” said Andrew Koshakta, Lone Tree middle and high school principal.
Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Reach her at PBarraza@press-citizen.com or 319-519-9731. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Lone Tree's Jessica Howard named southeast Iowa STEM Teacher of the Year
