Hampton High School Science Teacher Honored with 2025 Shell Urban Science Educators Development Award

HENRY COUNTY, GA – The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) recently honored Hampton High School Science Department Chair Dr. Sadereka Evans with the 2025 Shell Urban Science Educators Development Award.

Dr. Evans was one of seven teachers nationwide to receive the highly competitive award, which recognizes commitment to advancing STEM in and outside the classroom, as well as dedication to supporting fellow STEM educators.

NSTA presents the annual award to K-12 science teachers in urban settings, who are part of underrepresented populations in STEM, “to help strengthen quality science teaching and enhance teacher content knowledge.”

Honorees received a $1,800 stipend to attend the annual NSTA National Conference on Science Education earlier this year in addition to NSTA membership benefits.

“This award not only acknowledges my work but also recognizes my efforts and passion to mentor other educators as they prepare students to be leaders in science and scientific innovation,” Dr. Evans said. “Science teaches important life skills. Additionally, our world is shifting to one that increasingly prioritizes STEM. As a science educator, it is my responsibility to ensure students are equipped to meet these evolving demands. I will continue to champion science education and the need to encourage student improvement in science in alignment with performance requirements for core subject areas.”

As a result of her NSTA honor, Dr. Evans was recommended as a candidate for the next cohort of Department of Defense STEM Ambassadors. This award is presented annually to a select group of outstanding STEM educators from across the U.S., who will share, create, and curate resources to support and implement high-quality STEM learning for students nationwide.

Dr. Evans has devoted the last six years of her distinguished 22-year career in education to promoting STEM excellence in Henry County Schools. In addition to serving as science department chair at Hampton High School, Dr. Evans also teaches Advanced Placement (AP) Biology, Honors Biology, general biology, and environmental science.

She further supports students’ academic development through extracurricular activities and sponsors the school’s National Honor Society and STEM Club. She also mentors students through Hampton Ladies, which equips young women with essential life skills such as social etiquette, financial literacy, domestic skills, and motor vehicle maintenance.

Dr. Evans was recently named Hampton High School’s Teacher of the Year (TOTY) and will be celebrated alongside 53 other elementary, middle, and high school TOTYs in October, when HCS will announce this year’s district TOTY.

“Dr. Evans exemplifies the passion and commitment that has helped to advance STEM education across Henry County Schools,” said Superintendent Dr. John Pace III. “This national recognition is a testament to her dedication to student success and reflects the caliber of instructional excellence the district strives to cultivate in its promise of a high-quality, world-class education for every student. Bright futures begin in Henry County Schools thanks to teachers like Dr. Evans.”

NSTA is a committee of science educators and professionals committed to best practices in teaching science and STEM. NSTA’s Shell Urban Science Educators Development Award provides support to outstanding diverse educators in pursuit of professional development, active participation in its annual conference, and service to committees that transitions into leadership roles, with the goal of increasing the science educator talent pool of underrepresented populations in STEM to meet the education workforce of the future.