Through an ongoing partnership with ExxonMobil, Spring ISD teachers will be headed to College Station this summer for classes on how to better incorporate and teach science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) curriculum into their classrooms.

Representatives from Spring ISD, Texas A&M, and the ExxonMobil Foundation were on hand Monday to surprise 11 middle school teachers throughout the district. These teachers applied for and were selected to be a part of a program at Texas A&M called Aggie STELLAR (STEM Teacher Education, Learning, Leadership and Resources).

“This is an amazing partnership with the ExxonMobil Foundation. They’re supporting our middle school teachers by partnering with Texas A&M so that our teachers can go to a special institute there to help them learn all about STEM courses and programs,” Superintendent Dr. Lupita Hinojosa said. “The competition was so stiff, and we are so proud of the Spring ISD teachers that were selected to be a part of this program. We’ll be tracking their journey and rooting for them all the way through.”

The program is spearheaded by the Texas A&M University Continuing Education and Professional Development Department and provides teachers with access to necessary resources, strategies and support to engage students in meaningful hands-on STEM learning experiences. It was paid for through a grant with the ExxonMobil Foundation.

The partnership was announced last year, and will also equip schools with science supplies and materials to further student education as well as newly built tech centers that will allow high school students to get hands-on experience with STEM activities.

One of the teachers selected, Curtis Mickens at Twin Creeks Middle School, is already a leader on campus, serving as both a multi-classroom leader and head of the school’s math department, as well as being selected as the Twin Creeks Teacher of the Year.

“I’m super excited about being a part of the Aggie STELLAR program. Being able to study more in the STEM background will help me to support my teachers,” Mickens said. “It will truly help shift the entire culture of Twin Creeks. We’ve already talked about getting a STEM program going, with clubs and everything, and this will help us achieve that. When one wins, we all win.”

The selected teachers for the inaugural class of this partnership are:

Bailey MS 

• Kendra Lee

Twin Creeks MS 

• Trellenza Allen
• Andrea Jacobson 
• Janine Jack
• Curtis Mickens

Claughton MS 

• Cristen Gauthier
• Marielle Kapileo
• Paula Martin

Spring Leadership Academy 

• Marc Hinton
• Melissa Lugo
• Rachelle McCoy