November will be STEAM Month!

The Rhode Island Department of Education and the Rhode Island STEAM Center recognizes STEAM Month in November.  The purpose of RI STEAM Month is to celebrate opportunities that RI schools offer students in STEAM areas as well as highlight the importance of learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art+Design, and Mathematics areas. 

2024 STEAM Educator Awards

The Rhode Island STEAM Center and the RI Department of Education (RIDE) invite nominations for the STEAM Educator Awards.  Nominations should be emailed to carolyn.higgins@ride.ri.gov and include the educators name, school, and a brief statement describing why they should be considered for the award.  Teachers are also encouraged to apply for the award directly.  Full award details and criteria are found here, along with the link to the application.

The STEAM Educator Awards will be presented to one elementary educator (grades K-5), one middle school educator (grades 6-8), and one high school educator (grades 9-12) whose innovative and engaging lessons spark curiosity and creativity in their students. Nominees/applicants must be full-time PK-12 teachers, employed in a public school in Rhode Island, with at least 3 years of experience teaching.  Each awardee will receive a grant for their classroom and a personal award.

The STEAM Educator Award is presented in memory of Dr. Carol Giuriceo, who served as the center’s director since 2013 and organized the first STEAM Educator Award. Dr. Giuriceo passed away in 2021 after a hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer. 

Along with recognition in November, the winners will receive a grant from Rhode Island Energy to use in their classrooms. 

2024 STEAM Educator Awards Criteria & Application

2024 RI STEAM Month Logo Contest- 

Rhode Island high school students submitted entries with a logo and slogan to be used on promotional items and public announcements during RI STEAM Month 2024. Logos include a slogan/quote and student-generated artwork that promotes STEAM Education for all students in Rhode Island.  We invite the public to vote for the entry that best meets the criteria. 

Voting has closed, winner will be announced in September!

Selection Criteria:

The artwork and slogan/tagline should:

  • Be creative and original.
  • Effectively capture the viewer’s attention.
  • Promote the innovative and collaborative nature of STEAM.
  • Reflect the inclusion of all students in STEAM learning opportunities.
  • Clearly promote Rhode Island STEAM Month 2024.
  • Be reproducible with sharp, clean edges, free of smudges and extraneous marks.

RI STEAM Month 2023 Recap

From Musical MakeyMakey Gummy Bears in South Kingstown to construction of a Green-designed storage building in Cranston, schools around the state recognized RI STEAM Month 2023.  Thank you to all of the teachers and administrators who invited us to visit classrooms and family events where innovation and problem solving were on the agenda.  We also appreciate the community partners who hosted family STEAM events during November.  

2023 RI STEAM Educator Awards 

The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) and the Rhode Island STEAM Center at Rhode Island College (RIC) presented three teachers with the 2023 RI STEAM Educator Award. The winners are as follows:

  • Kristen Noonan, Visual Arts Teacher, E.G. Robertson Elementary School, Warwick
  • Michelle Conary Brittain, Computer Science Teacher, Chariho Middle School
  • Corinne Gelinas, Technology Engineering Educator, North Providence High School

Along with recognition, the recipients receive a $1,000 classroom stipend and $500 personal award courtesy of the PPL Foundation. Our three STEAM Educators were also presented with engraved awards and banners courtesy of the RI Society of Technology Educators (RISTE).

Congratulations to all of the applicants and thank you to the team of reviewers from the RI STEAM Center, RIDE, RIC, and URI. The STEAM Educator Awards are dedicated to Dr. Carol Giuriceo, who served as the center’s director since 2013 and organized the first STEAM Educator Award. Dr. Giuriceo passed away in 2021 after a hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer.