Jessica Howard knew someone would receive the award; she just didn’t believe it would be her. 

“I checked the website compulsively [so I could] congratulate whoever won because I knew it’s not going to be me. It’s my first time being nominated and first time filling out the very lengthy process to submit my curriculum and my reasons for why I do what I do,” she said.

But Howard, Lone Tree Community School’s business and high school computer teacher, Esports coach, and co-advisor for the National Honors Society, did win.  She received the Southeast Iowa Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Teacher of the Year award from the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council on Thursday, March 23, in a surprise celebration of all her hard work. 

Representatives from Kemin Industries, an Iowa-based global supplier of ingredients for several industries, were at Lone Tree High School’s south gym to present the award to Howard. 

Howard is a deserving recipient of the award. When the student body was asked who has been positively affected by Howard, almost all of the students raised their hands, which gave way to cheering and clapping bombastically once Howard’s name was announced as the winner. She is a clear favorite of the school.

As tears rushed down her face in utter surprise, she got up and accepted the award. She was stuck for words, only saying, “I cannot do this, obviously, without you. The whole reason I’m here is because of you guys. So, thank you so much.”

Her family was there to witness, situating themselves in the center of the gym, first row, giving Howard a front row seat to the assembly that was built for her without her knowledge. This did create suspicion for Howard.

“I walk down the stairs and see my entire family, which half of them are here with me every day, so that wasn’t a surprise,” Howard said. “To see my significant other here, and he just miraculously got off work in time to be here, is amazing but, something’s up, because this is weird.”  

Along with the award, Howard was presented with $3,000, with half to be spent in the classroom. She hopes to get more technology in the hands of her students.

Howard went through a long journey to become a teacher. In fact, she did not want to even be a teacher, as she watched her mother struggle as one.

Starting in sales, she developed a passion for teaching. While working at the Muscatine Journal, she developed design skills. Then she decided to put it all together, taking classes to become a teacher and landing a job with Lone Tree, where she has been ever since. 

“I worked at US Cellular for a long time, and I really loved that, [it was a] great place to teach me how to be a great human,” Howard said. “My passion was about educating and inspiring and realizing that if I could give people the information, they can make the best decisions for themselves.”

Her career at Lone Tree requires her to be more than just a teacher. She is a mentor for the students with whom she crosses paths. Since Lone Tree is a PreK-12 program, if a student attends for their whole school career, they will grow up with Howard teaching them at various levels. 

“[I] try to educate as best as I could and have others learning from my mistakes or from anything that I can do to make the next generation and life better. Leave a legacy and leave an impact,” Howard said. 

One student Howard has impacted is senior Jackson Buser, who is currently in her sports marketing class and on the Esports team. 

“Even if you’re struggling, you can always ask for help and she just is always there for you,” Buser said. “[Her classes are] just relaxing. You know, you get to do stuff and get stuff done. She expects you to get it done. When you do get it done, you can just relax, have fun, help other people.”

Howard, along with five other winners of the STEM teacher of the year award, will be honored at the Iowa State Fair by Governor Kim Reynolds on the Fair’s STEM Day, August 22.