Cathleen Drake-McGarvey

Danville, VA | K-6, Science, 2020

What motivates you to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching?

My drive to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching stems from a fundamental belief: education is about shaping future citizens. Students are inherently curious and STEM offers a natural and powerful avenue to address their questions. By providing relevant tasks and focusing on global problems, I can engage students in authentic, real-world problem-solving. This approach helps them foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for how STEM impacts their lives and the world around them.

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

The most transformative moment affirming my impact in STEM education arrived with my nomination for the Presidential Award by a colleague. Progressing through the rigorous state and national levels of that process was incredibly validating. This recognition didn't just affirm my past work; it catapulted me into a new role within my school division, dramatically increasing my sphere of influence. No longer confined to a single grade level in one school, I now co-teach STEM across multiple grades in numerous schools. This shift allows me to build collaborative relationships with a diverse group of educators and to engage a far greater number of students in the kind of meaningful learning that defines effective STEM.

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

Advancing our nation in STEM will be achieved through the cumulative power of consistent, strategic actions. As an Awardee, I can amplify these efforts by cultivating STEM excellence in the classroom by dedicating time to mentoring the next generation of STEM educators. Ensuring new teachers are equipped to inspire curiosity and critical thinking in their students leading and participating in citizen science initiatives, where real-world problems become learning opportunities.

Biography

Cathleen Drake-McGarvey is a veteran educator with over 26 years of experience in Virginia, currently specializing in STEM education for grades 3-5. Her teaching career spans a wide range of elementary grades (K, 1, 2, 5, and 6), demonstrating her adaptability and commitment to early childhood and foundational learning. A true innovator, Cathleen actively works to advance computer science concepts, robotics, and the design process, equipping students with the critical thinking skills needed to devise solutions to real-world problems. She played a key role in the collaborative effort to establish STEM Innovation Labs in all elementary schools within her division, a testament to her vision for hands-on, problem-based learning. Cathleen's strong educational background includes a B.S. in elementary education from SUNY College at Old Westbury, certifications in pre-kindergarten through third grade Early/Primary Education and third through sixth grade Elementary, a Leadership Certificate from JMU, and a recently acquired endorsement in Gifted Education. Through her work, Cathleen continues to shape the next generation of creative thinkers and problem-solvers.

High-resolution version of the official portrait photograph
Awardee with Dr. Quincy Brown, Senior Policy Advisor at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and Dr. Sylvia Butterfield, Acting Assistant Director at the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) within the National Science Foundation (NSF)
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.