Rocky River Elementary School is celebrating a remarkable achievement as one of its own, Adam Haas, has been named a recipient of the prestigious 2025 Career Award for STEM Teachers (CAST) by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. This highly competitive award honors five exceptional educators across North Carolina impacting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.
Haas, known for his creativity and collaborative approach to teaching, brings innovative technology and engineering challenges into his classroom, sparking curiosity and exploration among his students.
"I'm excited and surprised," Haas shared. "Now my brain's working, and it's like, yep, we must do everything we said we would. I love it!"
Principal Cathy Haney expressed her excitement about the award’s impact.
"I'm excited for our school, students and Haas because he is an extraordinary teacher. The materials this grant provides will allow students to have hands-on experiences that challenge them, helping them see that they are scientists and mathematicians. This award sends a strong message about what we value and what we see in our students."
Haas is particularly passionate about expanding STEM education opportunities throughout the county. The Career Award for STEM Teachers provides each recipient with $175,000 over five years to enhance professional development opportunities and expand STEM learning experiences for students.
This funding will allow Haas to implement new projects, integrate cutting-edge technology and continue to inspire his students to see themselves as future problem solvers and innovators.
"The project is to bring STEM to more kids in the county," he explained. "It's twofold: first, we’re preparing to provide science professional development for teachers. And second, we’re getting materials into the classroom, including 21st-century tools that our kids wouldn’t otherwise have access to."
Haas emphasized the importance of hands-on problem-solving in the classroom and everyday life.
"I love STEM. I live and breathe it," he said. "I joke with my students—I'm not a vacuum fixer, but when my vacuum broke, I took it apart, thought about it, got aggravated as they do, and figured it out. And now we have a working vacuum! STEM is about persistence and problem-solving and that's what I want to teach my students."
Haas joins an elite group of educators who have demonstrated excellence in STEM teaching and a strong commitment to cultivating leadership in their schools and communities.
As Rocky River Elementary and the broader school community celebrate Haas’s achievement, his students and colleagues look forward to the exciting opportunities this award will bring. His impact as an educator continues to shape the future of STEM learning, influencing the next generation of scientists, engineers and creative thinkers.
For more information about the Career Award for STEM Teachers, visit Burroughs Wellcome Fund.
04/02/2025
