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St. Louis Teachers Honored with 2021 Loeb Prize for Excellence in Teaching Science and Mathematics
The Saint Louis Science Center announced the finalists of the 2021 Saint Louis Science Center and Carol B. and Jerome T. Loeb Prize for Excellence in Teaching Science and Mathematics. Nipher Middle School teacher Laura Schowalter was announced as a runner up. The finalists received their awards at a ceremony at the Science Center’s OMNIMAX® Theater.
This year’s other winners are:
- 2nd Place: Devon Lahr, Mehlville High School
- Runner Up: Jennifer Adams, Clayton High School
- Runner Up: Laura Schowalter, Nipher Middle School
- Runner Up: Elizabeth Walsh-Rock, STEAM Academy at McCluer South-Berkeley
- Winner: Susan Zareh, Forsyth School
“Great teachers are the cornerstone of a strong community and it is incredibly meaningful to honor them as we reach the end of a school year that challenged teachers to continue influencing the next generation while navigating a global pandemic. All of our finalists demonstrate expertise in their subject areas, innovative teaching styles including the use of technology, and personal commitment to the overall well-being of their students,” said Carol Loeb, who has been teaching math for 58 years. She and her husband, the late Jerome T. Loeb, established the Loeb Prize in 1995 at the Science Center.
The Loeb Prize, endowed in 2002 by a generous gift from the Loeb family, honors teachers who significantly enhance their students’ performances in science and mathematics. The late Mr. Loeb worked for the May Department Stores Company, retiring as chairman of the board. He also served as chairman of the Science Center’s Board of Commissioners and a member of the Board of Trustees. Carol Loeb, who serves on the organization’s Board of Trustees, presided over today’s awards ceremony along with Todd Bastean, president and CEO, and Siinya Williams, senior director of community science.
“The Saint Louis Science Center is honored to have partnered with the Loeb family for over 25 years to recognize and reward outstanding teachers throughout the St. Louis region,” Bastean said. “Having a solid foundation in STEAM subject areas is crucial in preparing students for the future, and the Loeb Prize is a wonderful way to honor area teachers who share in our mission ‘to ignite and sustain lifelong science and technology learning.’”
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About the Loeb Prize
The Loeb Prize, established in 1995 and endowed in 2002 by a gift from Carol B. and Jerome T. Loeb, honors effective teaching as a central component of quality education. It is one way in which the Loeb family and the Saint Louis Science Center demonstrate their commitment to teaching professionals and elevate public appreciation for teachers’ efforts. The late Jerome Loeb, former chairman of the board of the May Department Stores Company, was a member of the Saint Louis Science Center’s Board of Trustees and chaired its Board of Commissioners. Carol Loeb is a math teacher and currently serves on the Saint Louis Science Center’s Board of Trustees.
Saint Louis Science Center
The mission of the Saint Louis Science Center is to ignite and sustain lifelong science and technology learning. Named a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate in 2016, the Saint Louis Science Center features more than 700 interactive exhibits, as well as a five-story OMNIMAX® Theater, Boeing Hall and the James S. McDonnell Planetarium. For more information about the Saint Louis Science Center, please visit slsc.org.
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