Opportunity Overview
The Iowa Department of Education and Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council are accepting nominations and nominated-teacher applications for the 2027 Iowa STEM Teacher Award, IowaGrants opportunity 686915. The program honors one teacher from each of Iowa’s six STEM regions.
Award and Deadlines
Each of the six regional recipients receives $1,500 for personal use and $1,500 for classroom use. The public nomination window closes September 30, 2026 at 4:59 PM Central Time. Teachers who have been nominated must submit the IowaGrants application by October 14, 2026 at 4:59 PM Central Time. IowaGrants states that no extensions will be granted.
Eligibility and Process
Eligible nominees are licensed, full-time PK-12 Iowa teachers who incorporate science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or related disciplines in public or nonpublic school classrooms. For this award, full-time means spending at least 75% of working hours, approximately 30 hours minimum, interacting with students in the classroom either virtually or in person. Previous award recipients and self-nominations are not eligible. A teacher must first be nominated; applications without a nomination are not considered.
Administrators, teachers, counselors, parents, students, and other STEM advocates may nominate an eligible teacher. Nominated teachers then complete the IowaGrants application, including contact information, references, education and employment history, and five essay responses limited to 1,000 characters each. Optional supporting materials may include specified document, photo, or video materials subject to the current application rules.
Atlas Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 56/100. This is legitimate Iowa K-12 education funding intelligence with a direct classroom benefit, but it is an individual educator recognition award rather than an organizational grant or procurement pathway. N9+ Fit Score: 0/100; QC Healthcare Fit Score: 0/100. No Dr. Miltie direct-vendor or applicant path is established.
Next Action
Iowa schools and STEM stakeholders may nominate qualified educators by September 30. Nominated teachers should use the current Iowa STEM Teacher Award guidance and submit their own IowaGrants application by October 14 at 4:59 PM Central Time. Atlas should not create cold applicant outreach or an organization-level Deal for this teacher-level award.
Official sources: Iowa Department of Education — Iowa STEM Teacher Award and IowaGrants opportunity 686915.