Ruth Ruud

Fairview, PA | K-6, Science, 1993

What motivates you to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching?

I want all my students to have the opportunities for STEM based activities and projects that will be the foundation for continued learning in science, math, technology and engineering. STEM based careers are so important to the future of our nation and the students I teach today will be the community of tomorrow. With STEM I have the opportunity to present the activities and projects to students that are relevant to future occupations and can involved community personnel.

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

I have had many moments but when I hear from former students who are presently in medical fields, engineering fields and math and science fields, that I was a catalyst in their career decisions.

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

I would promote STEM by conference presentations and community participation with STEM activities so to share my expertise with other teachers and students. I am involved in community activities for boys and girls clubs and provide the activities to encourage the school age students to become more involved in science, math, and engineering activities.

Biography

In 1993 the National Science Foundation honored Ruud with a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching. Ruth taught elementary and middle school science for 22 years before becoming an administrator. Ruth was an Adjunct at Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio for 18 years. Ruth received the Milken Educator Award in 1996. Ruth is the Milken Educator National Coordinator for State Liaisons. Presently she serves as Head Reviewer for the NSTA Shell Science Lab Challenge Competition. Ruth is a past president for APAST. Ruth is past treasurer for the Society of Elementary Presidential Awardees. Ruth also is a reviewer for various publishers and NSTA Conference proposals. From 2003 until her retirement, Ruth Ruud was an elementary administrator at Ridgefield Elementary School in Erie. Previously, she was the grant coordinator/special projects for the Millcreek Township School District in Erie, and before that was a science teacher. Ruth and Juliana Texley, PAEMST awardee Michigan, 1987, are coauthors Teaching STEM Literacy (2016 Redleaf Press), STEM lessons to support the language of science. During the years at middle school, I worked with 12 local industries to develop the Science Industry Partnerships, which enabled students in grades two through seven to explore science topics through hands-on activities and real-life applications and settings, preparing for a future in a global technological world. I also created Super Science Saturday, a science fair for more than 300 students and adults, with shadowing opportunities and hands-on activities involving university and industrial scientists.

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