Rachel Ruggirello, associate director of the Institute for School Partnership at Washington University in St. Louis, is the 2022 recipient of the Outstanding Administrative Support Award by the National Science Education Leadership Association (NSELA).
The award is given annually to honor one educator who is working outside the classroom at school, district and city/county levels to promote excellence in science teaching and learning. Ruggirello will accept the award at the NSELA Summer Institute in June.
“We are very pleased that Rachel is being recognized with this prestigious award,” says ISP Executive Director Victoria May. “Her leadership has been instrumental in making ISP the partner of choice for education leaders throughout our region. With her exceptional contributions and commitment to serving as a wonderful resource to thousands of educators, we are transforming science education in our community and preparing students to become scientifically literate citizens.”
Ruggirello has served as associate director of the ISP since 2009. She has been instrumental in establishing and scaling mySci, a comprehensive curriculum program including online instructional materials, integrated professional learning, and an innovative leasing model for hands-on activity supplies, equipping school districts in the St. Louis area with everything needed for high-quality, equitable science and engineering teaching and learning. With her leadership, mySci K-8 partnerships have grown from ten to fifty districts, with over 3,500 educators using mySci to teach more than 100,000 students annually. In addition, Ruggirello was instrumental in establishing ISP as a hub for Network Improvement Communities, as well as the development of the science coursework for a new Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning for a local teacher residency program.
“I am honored to be recognized with this award and to share the recognition with my colleagues at ISP and throughout the St. Louis region,” says Rugirello. “At the ISP and in my previous experience as a high school science teacher, I have seen how important STEM education is for students and how necessary strong instructional guidance – including curriculum, assessment, materials, and professional development – is for teachers to nurture student engagement and achievement. I am proud of our commitment to long-term collaboration with our partners, and the impact we can have on science education when we come alongside teachers to reach our most underserved students, stimulating their interest and creating equitable access to STEM in our region.”
Learn more about NSELA and the OASA.