PLTW Announces 2025-26 National Awards Recipients Celebrating Excellence in Education Across the Nation

INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025-26 National Awards, honoring outstanding educators who are empowering their students through transformative, career-connected learning. PLTW is a nationwide non-profit organization that has been preparing students for careers, college and lifelong success for over 25 years through hands-on, project-based learning connected to career and technical education.

Each year, PLTW honors outstanding teachers and administrators who have made significant impacts in their classrooms, schools, and communities. These educators demonstrate exemplary leadership that inspires and provides opportunities for their students through PLTW programs. This year’s winners include:

• Jeannette Cruz, Wheaton High School, Maryland – Robert & Patricia Kern PLTW Teacher of the Year
• Tia Rodriguez, Roger D. Gehring Academy of Science and Technology, Nevada – PLTW Launch Teacher of the Year
• Aaron Sottile, Calavera Hills Middle School, California – PLTW Gateway Teacher of the Year
• Angela Quinlan, Pacific High School, California – PLTW Biomedical Science Teacher of the Year
• Scott Wooddell, Oxford Area High School, Pennsylvania – PLTW Computer Science Teacher of the Year
• Natalie Campana, Steubenville High School, Ohio – PLTW Engineering Teacher of the Year
• Tim Vaughan, Prince William County Public Schools, Virginia – PLTW Administrator of the Year

Award recipients were chosen from PLTW’s nationwide network of educators and recognized across multiple categories based on the PLTW pathways they teach or lead. These categories range from elementary and middle school programs – PLTW Launch and PLTW Gateway – to PLTW high school pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science. The National Teacher and Administrator of the Year awards honor the exceptional commitment, innovation, and impact these educators bring to their classrooms and communities.

“Every day, educators show up to make an important and life-changing difference in the lives of young people in communities all across our country. They build on students' natural curiosity and inspire confidence while helping prepare them for a range of life opportunities and experiences,” said Dr. David Dimmett, PLTW President and CEO. “PLTW is proud to honor and celebrate extraordinary educators each year through our national awards program.”

Award winners were selected based on criteria that demonstrate the impact these educators have on their students, including expanding access; exhibiting leadership within their classroom, school, district, and/or local community of educators; and ultimately empowering their students to develop key transferable skills for college and career success.

About PLTW

For nearly 30 years, Project Lead The Way (PLTW) has prepared PreK–12 students for careers, college, and life by equipping them with the STEM knowledge, credential preparation, transferable skills, and confidence to succeed. Our hands-on, real-world learning, deep industry partnerships and clear, scaffolded curriculum guide students from early career curiosity to postsecondary readiness. With strong professional development and a national network of more than 116,000 trained teachers in 12,200+ schools across all 50 states, PLTW enables schools to design scalable, future-focused programs that inspire students, empower educators, and connect learning to life after graduation. Visit pltw.org to learn more.