Home News SPRING VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL BIOLOGY TEACHER WINS TWO NATIONAL RESEARCH AWARDS

SPRING VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL BIOLOGY TEACHER WINS TWO NATIONAL RESEARCH AWARDS

5/12/2022

Always inspired by the creativity, grit and perseverance her students demonstrate through their research projects, Spring Valley High School Biology Teacher Michelle Spigner says she is honored and humbled to receive two special recognitions for promoting student research.

Spigner has been named the 2022 Junior Science and Humanities (JSHS) Teacher of the Year. JSHS is a Tri-Service, U. S. Army, U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, and U.S. Air Force and Space Force, sponsored STEM competition which promotes original research and experimentation in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics at the high school level. JSHS also publicly recognizes students for outstanding achievement.

Additionally, Spigner is being recognized as a 2022 Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS) Teacher of Merit. As a result, Spring Valley High School will receive $2000 to use to promote student research in STEM fields. Regeneron STS, a program of Society for Science & the Public, is the nation’s most prestigious pre-college science and math competition.

"I am honored and humbled to receive these two special recognitions. Teaching research is challenging at times, but it is extremely rewarding when I get to see my students present at research competitions and really show off all the hard work they have put into their research. They are the true superstars," said Spigner.

This is not her first time winning coveted national awards. In 2011, Spigner won the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Spigner holds a Bachelor of Science in biology and Master of Teaching in Natural Science from the University of South Carolina. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Educational Innovation with a concentration in STEM Education.