Linda Shamy

Scottsdale, AZ | K-6, Mathematics, 2022

What motivates you to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching?

STEM and STEAM is our present and future! Students are inherently and naturally curious and interested in addressing real-life problems and finding practical solutions. Watching students have fun learning in this way motivates me to continue my journey teaching and learning so that more students benefit from this hands-on practical approach to learning and integrating essential curriculum standards across all content areas. All students deserve to be challenged and achieve excellence in STEM!

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

Winning "The Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Math Teaching" at the state and national levels were the most transformative moments in my life! Being nominated for this most prestigious award, going through the rigorous application process that requires much thought, writing, reflection of my teaching over the years, collection of artifacts, and reading testimonials from students/parents/colleagues, and administrators' all truly reinforced the significance and impact that I have had on them personally relating to their educational values, progress, and love for learning through fun, interactive, and integrated STEAM learning. Going through this entire process affirmed my impact on STEAM and fueled my drive to keep it going!

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

I am one of the newest Presidential Awardees from 2022 (announced Jan. 2025). I am just beginning this journey! I would love to get involved in National Organizations and Consortiums that work to challenge and promote STEM/STEAM education in more schools and districts especially by adding a Makerspace for innovation/engineering design, integrating curriculum across content areas and applying the 4 C's (Creativity, Critical Thinking, Collaboration, and Communication) in project-based learning.

Biography

Linda “Stephanie” Shamy has been in education for 31 years. She began teaching in 1994 at Laguna Elementary School. She spent 21 years as a third-grade teacher and has served as Laguna’s K-5 Gifted Specialist for ten years. Stephanie teaches Accelerated Math and Reading for gifted and high-achieving students. She began a STEAM Makerspace where she works directly with students, modeling in classrooms, mentoring, and coaching teachers: campus, district, and state-wide. Stephanie integrates real-life learning experiences for her students. She developed a classroom management system where students become entrepreneurs, develop companies, use cash, checks, and spreadsheets to manage transactions. She plans project-based learning units using the Makerspace, recycled materials, coding, and 3D printers that allow students to integrate content with hands-on projects solving real-world problems. Her students work with biomedical engineers to design working prosthetics for clients. She plans annual STEM field trips that are linked to standards creating real-life experiences and community connections. Stephanie has presented at national, state, district and school conferences. Recent presentations in STEAM include The CRR AZ Math Conference and Arizona Gifted Conferences for both families and educators. She participates annually in professional development integrating arts and STEM, then shares with colleagues through collaboration and workshops. Stephanie received her B.A. in Education from Arizona State University and her M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. She has early childhood, English as a Second Language (ESL), and gifted endorsements. She is a National Board-Certified Teacher in literacy: reading-language arts/early and middle childhood.

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.