Robert Ricks Sylacauga, AL | 7-12, Science, 1996

Robert Stephen “Steve” Ricks began his secondary science teaching career in 1977 in Alabama at Wheatley School. He later taught at Childersburg Middle and Comer High Schools where he received the Presidential Award in 1996. Steve also served as a part-time instructor at Central Alabama Community College for 10 years. He holds numerous degrees, including a B.S., M.Ed., Ed.S., and Ed.D. Steve was inducted into the State Teacher Hall of Fame in 1994. He was selected as Alabama’s State Teacher of the Year in 1995 and was released from school responsibilities for over a year to serve as the state’s official spokesperson for education. In 1996, he was honored as a Top Five Finalist in the National Teacher Hall of Fame. Steve has received numerous awards and recognition both statewide and nationally. In 1996, to fulfill newly enacted legislation, the state Department of Education appointed Steve as the “distinguished educator” responsible for assisting schools in danger of being taken over due to low test scores. In 1999, the State Superintendent charged Steve with the responsibility of creating a world class mathematics and science initiative to “provide all students in Grades K-12 with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in post-secondary studies and the workforce.” Following the creation of the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative (AMSTI), Steve was appointed its director. With a professional staff of 300 across 11 regional sites, the initiative serves over half of a million students daily. It has been cited by various entities as the “largest, most comprehensive and successful math and science initiative in the world” including serving as a learning model for China, 28 countries in Europe, and more. Steve retired from his role as director in 2017.

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