She received the award last month at the ASTE International Conference in Clearwater, Fla.
ASTE is a worldwide organization, more than 800 members strong, that promotes excellence in science teacher education.
“ASTE members are known across the country as leaders in science teacher education,” Schneider said. “Others in my field recognize this as an important award, and it’s very exciting. The organization is proud of this award and the people who receive it.”
Candidates must be nominated by an ASTE member and have letters of support from three additional colleagues before being scored on six criteria: competency in teaching, development of science teacher education programs, research activities, science curricula, leadership in science teacher education and external leadership experience.
“This award is for a single person with less than 10 years of experience,” Schneider said. “It’s a cumulative career-level award for research, teaching, curriculum and other items over the past 10 years.”
Schneider’s development and research include three ongoing projects at UT:
• The one-year Licensure and Alternative Master’s Program focuses on science teacher learning progressions and is supported by the Woodrow Wilson Ohio Teaching Fund;
• A graduate-level course sequence for new mentor science teachers concentrated on classroom-based teacher education and leadership; and
• A learning community of teachers, which is an online workspace for educator collaboration focused specifically on the needs of science teachers new to mentoring and e-learning used in the Licensure and Alternative Master’s Program.