ORISE awards $30,000 to winning teachers in D.C., Baltimore and Richmond as part of CIA Mission Possible Makerspace Competition

OAK RIDGE, Tenn.—Three teachers, one each in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Md., and Richmond, Va., can look forward to helping their students better develop their STEAM (science, technologist, engineering, arts and mathematics) skills thanks to the Central Intelligence Agency. Each teacher was the winner in their city of the CIA Mission Possible Makerspace Nation competition and a $30,000 grand prize with which they can purchase makerspace items for their classrooms.

The winners of the competition in their respective cities were:

• Baltimore, Md.: Scott Hartman, a sixth-grade science teacher at Hamilton Elementary/Middle School
• Washington, D.C.: Lee Wallin, a fifth-grade teacher at Whittier Elementary School
• Richmond, Va.: Rhonda Hawley, a K-5 teacher at Linwood Holton Elementary School

The CIA sponsors CIA Mission Possible Makerspace Nation competition to promote learning in STEAM fields. The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education manages the program for the CIA.

Teachers who applied for the award were asked to submit a video that creatively portrayed their need for a makerspace in the classroom and how it would improve the STEAM educational experience of their students.

Representatives from ORISE presented oversized checks for $30,000 during surprise assemblies at each of the schools.

During the reveal, Shane Tilley, ORISE program manager, expressed that there is no limit to education and what students can accomplish given the necessary resources.

“As education standards continue to evolve, teachers at every school need to have the tools and technology available to help their classrooms evolve as well,” Tilley said. “Through programs like the CIA Mission Possible Makerspace Nation, we can help provide standout teachers like these competition winners with the necessary materials to make STEAM learning an adventure for students.”

Contestants entering the CIA Mission Possible Classroom Transformation were required to teach a STEAM subject in grades 3-10 in a Baltimore, Washington, D.C., or Richmond public school.

For a full description of the contest, please visit orise.orau.gov/cia-mission-possible.