Megan Tucker

Fort Walton Beach, FL | K-6, Science, 2010

What motivates you to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching?

I’m motivated by the joy of sparking curiosity and confidence in young learners through real, hands-on STEAM experiences. Seeing students grow as problem-solvers, creators, and critical thinkers inspires me to keep pushing for excellence. Whether through coding, engineering challenges, exploring wireless tech, or creating paper airplanes, I aim to make STEAM meaningful, relevant, and empowering for every child.

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

I honestly have transformative moments every day in my elementary classroom. I LOVE it when I see the lightbulbs and students making connections, no matter how small! A bigger transformative moment that affirmed my impact on STEAM education was running into a former student, once unsure of her abilities, confidently walking around a national conference as a drone pilot. She told me that it was being in my classroom that sparked her vision and that was when she truly saw herself as an engineer. Moments like that remind me that STEAM education isn’t just about content; it’s about unlocking potential and changing the trajectory of someone's future.

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

As a Presidential Awardee, I hope to advance our nation in STEAM by showing what’s possible when we give our youngest learners the chance to explore, engage, build, and wonder. If we just provide the opportunities—real tools, real problems, real purpose—we’ll see kids rise to the challenge. It is so important to support teachers, share what works, and open doors for more schools to bring hands-on, meaningful STEAM learning to life, starting in the earliest grades.

Biography

Megan Tucker, Dean of Curriculum, STEAM Specialist, and Gifted/Instructional Facilitator at Hillsboro Charter Academy in VA, is a passionate educator. She's taught STEM at the Palmdale Aerospace Academy in CA and 4th Grade/Aerospace/STEM at Kenwood Elementary School in FL, holding Project Lead the Way STEM certifications. Megan founded the AERO Club and Girls in GEAR STEAM club, showcasing her commitment to student engagement. Her teaching philosophy: "If a student is truly motivated, he or she can achieve anything," finding motivation in aerospace STEAM challenges. As a Limitless Space Institute Educator who traveled to teach aerospace in Nigeria, Megan champions using "tools not toys" to engage young learners in real-world scenarios, fostering 21st Century Skills. Her extensive accolades include the 2023 National Aviation Hall of Fame Crossfield Teacher of the Year, Presidential Award for Science Teaching (PAEMST 2010), National Civil Air Patrol Aerospace Educator of the Year (2011), NASA SOFIA Airborne Astronomy Ambassador (2014), American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Foundation Educator (2019), and Air & Space Forces Association/Rolls Royce National Teacher of the Year (2021). She's also a Space Station Ambassador (2017) and Space Foundation Teacher Liaison (2017). Megan directs K-12 STEAM camps, presents at conferences, and was selected three times for the America’s Teachers Program. A published author ("Aviation Fascination" on Science Netlinks), she's led schools to National CAP Aerospace Connections in Education School of the Year and written aviation curriculum. She holds a B.S. in elementary education from Auburn and an M.S. in science education K-8 from Walden, with Gifted/ELL endorsements, and is National Board Certified.

High-resolution version of the official portrait photograph
Awardee holding Presidential certificate between OSTP Associate Director for Science Carl Wieman and NSF Deputy Director Cora Marrett.
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.