MINNEOLA – Becky Antill of Grassy Lake Elementary School knows how to get students excited about science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM). This year, she supported 18 students at the Lake County Schools Science and Engineering Fair, and had nine return with awards. The previous year, 25 students earned awards at the regional fair.
Antill, a K-5 STEAM enrichment teacher with 20 years of education experience, has also led successful competitive STEAM teams across multiple grade levels. Over the past three years, her STEAM Bowl teams have consistently placed in the top 10, districtwide. She has served as the school’s robotics coach for the past three years, as well, and took her team all the way to the world championship this year!
Now, for her outstanding work with students, her continuous professional learning, and her leadership in professional development at the school, district, and regional levels, Antill is being recognized by the Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) as Lake County’s STEM Teacher of the Year. Representatives from the association surprised her at the school with a certificate and a cash award on May 6.
The AFA is a non-profit, independent, professional military and aerospace education association promoting public understanding of aerospace power and the pivotal role it plays in the security of the nation. One of its primary goals is recognizing excellence in STEM education through the Thompson/Mallett AFA National Teacher of the Year Awards program sponsored by Rolls-Royce.
The process begins at the local level. Every year, the Martin H. Harris Chapter of AFA recognizes outstanding teachers in STEM by presenting a Teacher of the Year award to one teacher in each of the five Central Florida counties: Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk, and Seminole. The chapter selects from the five awardees a Chapter Teacher of the Year who will represent the chapter and compete for the state award.
Congratulations and best of luck to Becky Antill!