Vicki Willett

Blacklick, OH | K-6, Science, 2016

What motivates you to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching?

What motivates me to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching is the transformative power STEM has in shaping curious minds and opening doors to future opportunities. I believe every student deserves access to engaging, hands-on learning that sparks creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Seeing the moment a student connects with a concept, builds something meaningful, or begins to see themselves as a scientist, engineer, or innovator drives my passion.

What has been the most transformative moment that affirmed your impact on STEM education?

One of the most transformative moments that affirmed my impact on STEM education happened during a hands-on activity where students designed airplanes using popsicle sticks and tagboard. A student who typically struggles with reading built a plane that not only flew across the hallway but also explained, in great detail, how the top part trapped the air, which gave it the energy to stay in flight. Her ability to articulate the science behind her design showed a level of understanding and confidence that might not have surfaced through traditional instruction.

Using your platform as a Presidential Awardee, how do you hope to advance our nation in STEM?

As an Awardee, I see it as both an honor and a responsibility to use my platform to elevate STEM in ways that are inclusive, inspiring, and impactful. I hope to advance STEM by empowering educators to embrace hands-on, inquiry-driven learning fostering creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Through mentoring, professional development, and collaboration with educators and policymakers, I want to help build a culture where STEM is a mindset and a pathway to a better future for all.

Biography

Vicki Willett received the Presidential Award in 2016. Since receiving the award, she has been blessed with many opportunities. She was promoted at Licking Heights to District Technology Specialist, a position based in STEM. She has been active in creating Power Standards in Mathematics, kindergarten through sixth grade, and in Report Card Revisions, kindergarten through fourth grade. Vicki has worked with the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) on many initiatives including revising standards for science, birth through five years old, and creating model curriculum for science, kindergarten through second grade. Vicki is a member of the department's Teacher Leader Liaison Network. She has presented for ODE on Best Practices in Remote Learning (Tale of Two Teachers, Part 3), Using Technology in Early Elementary, and Personalized Learning. Most recently, she was a featured presenter on a PBS webinar for ODE on Remote Teaching Strategies; her portion was on assessment. She has been able to attend multiple professional development opportunities as a result of the award including a scholarship to Space Explorers Education Conference and the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s National Summer Teacher Institute (NSTI) on Innovation, STEM, and Intellectual Property.

High-resolution version of the official portrait photograph
Awardee holding Presidential certificate between Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy U.S. Chief Technology Officer, Michael Kratsios, and National Science Foundation Director, Dr. France A. Córdova.
High-resolution version of the teacher profile photograph

The views expressed in awardee profiles are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of NSF or the PAEMST program.