Aaron Hamilton

Lafayette, IN | K-6, Science, 2018

What motivates you to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching?

The students are #1. I want to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching because I want students to be inspired and challenged in the fields of science and engineering!

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

In search of stronger science and engineering opportunities for students in the classroom, I attended an annual summer institute with the Science Learning through Engineering Design (SLED) team at Purdue University. As a result of implementing thought-provoking engineering design tasks, student passion for science grew as they used science concepts to create unique prototypes for solving a given problem. These summers of learning for me, helped my students get a better experience in the classroom.

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

Advancing the nation starts small. Getting the school building on board first, then the corporation, encourages students at the local level. As they find a love for STEM early on, they will have more interest in pursuing these careers that help our nation long term.

Biography

Aaron Hamilton has been an educator for fourteen years and has spent all of those years at Wyandotte Elementary School in the Tippecanoe School Corporation. He currently teaches all subjects to his fourth-grade class. My love for science goes beyond the classroom. I have presented sessions on both engineering design tasks and how to assess design ideas at several conferences. I have piloted SLED curriculum and collaborated with colleagues to implement design tasks throughout the school corporation in kindergarten through fifth grade. I earned a B.A., with highest distinction, in education from Purdue University. I am is certified as a kindergarten through sixth grade classroom and reading teacher.

High-resolution version of the official portrait photograph
Awardee holding Presidential certificate with National Science Foundation Directorate for Education and Human Resources Assistant Director, Dr. Karen Marrongelle, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director, Dr. Kelvin K. Droegemeier, and National Science Foundation Chief Operating Officer, Dr. F. Fleming Crim
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.