Awards & Recognitions
NAEA Educator of the Year
Shannon Ellis, an exceptional educator from Metro STEAM Academy, has been honored with the prestigious Alternative Education Educator of the Year award from the National Alternative Education Association (NAEA).
This national award recognizes Mr. Ellis's outstanding leadership, dedicated service, and profound commitment to advancing alternative education. As a teacher at the Metro STEAM Academy, Mr. Ellis has been instrumental in creating an environment where students who may not thrive in traditional settings can find success and a sense of belonging.
His colleagues and the broader community recognize his intelligence and his deep passion for the education world and our students. Mr. Ellis embodies the spirit of alternative education, constantly working to make his school a better place to grow and nurture our students. He has been praised for his ability to make everyone feel included and for consistently offering wise advice and guidance, always providing valuable insights and feedback.
2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Award
Chuck Tonelli with the 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Award. As his nomination states, Chuck helped to create the Metro STEAM Academy as a way to help students experience learning through community and project-based opportunities. In accepting the award, Chuck had this to say:
"More than me individually, this award speaks to the work that we have done to innovate and collaborate. It is recognition to my colleagues and my school for the incredible work we have done engaging students in STEM education. And it is meaningful acknowledgement to our students who have shown leadership and problem-solving skills that were untapped in prior educational settings and have made the STEAM Academy what it is today."