Ann Wright-Mockler

Richland, WA | 7-12, Science, 2005

What motivates you to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching?

The pace of change in our world today motivates me to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching. It is more important than ever to inspire, encourage, and support the development of students in STEM. Excellence in our STEM teachers is the key to preparing students so that our nation remains a global leader.

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

There is not just one transformative moment that affirmed my impact on STEM teaching, but rather dozens or more. Each time a former student remembers me and tells me something they remember for my class or tells me they are now in a STEM career I know I made a positive impact. When teachers I have worked with share how the work we did together has impacted even one student or a program I started is still successful and inspiring more students to pursue STEM careers, my impact is affirmed. All those little ripples plus those of so many excellent teachers I know are a validation of our work as educators.

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

With my platform as a Presidential Awardee I hope to continue to advance our nation in STEM by supporting the growth of other educators and inspiring more students to pursue careers in STEM.

Biography

Ann Wright-Mockler has over 25 years of experience in STEM education, workforce development, and project management. Her expertise spans from classroom teaching and workshop facilitation to STEM school implementation and internship program management. She has also contributed significantly to the development of STEM educational apps and the coordination of STEM competitions. At Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), where she has served for 17 years, Ann currently manages and facilitates various programs focused on cybersecurity, physics, energy, and general STEM workforce development. Additionally, she co-leads PNNL’s contributions to the Department of Energy CyberForce Collegiate Competition and workforce development for the Cyber Halo Innovation Research Project (CHIRP) for Space Force's Space Systems Command. Her programs emphasize expanding access to STEM opportunities for all students. Ann holds a master’s degree in education from Washington State University. She is also a Presidential Awardee for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Her work is dedicated to advancing STEM education and fostering strong collaborations among educational institutions, industry, and communities to provide enriching opportunities for students and educators alike.

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