Valley View Middle School, 2015 Winner
Shauna Hawes teaches at Valley View Middle School in Pleasant Hill. She has been teaching for 17 years. She has taught 5th grade as well as 6th grade English and social studies. She teaches Computer Applications and robotics to 6th-8th graders. Her enthusiastic instructional approach engages and motivates her students. Ms. Hawes started an after-school robotics and programming club. To interest girls in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (“STEM”) careers, Ms. Hawes secured a grant to provide a one-week summer Girls in Robotics Leadership day camp. She invited female engineers to visit the camp and assist on a volunteer basis. Mr. Hawes is also the coordinator of the Mouse Squad, a student technology leadership group whose members provide technology support to students and staff at the school and members of the community. She also secured Go-Pro cameras for her students to shoot and edit videos. Ms. Hawes shows students how to use technology to pursue whatever interests engage them – sports, photography, music or academic work.