CCSD Teachers Named 2025 Georgia STEM Scholars

Two Cherokee County School District teachers have been named 2025 Georgia STEM Scholars!

Karina Dean of Hickory Flat Elementary School and Cat Klingbeil of Freedom Middle School earned the honor that is presented annually by the Georgia Youth Science & Technology Centers (GYSTC).  Only 25 elementary and middle school teachers from a pool of statewide nominees were recognized as 2025 Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award winners.

Honored educators are selected for their excellence in teaching students about STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), their innovation in integrating STEM lessons in elementary and middle school education, and their leadership of student-based projects with impact that reach beyond their classroom.  Each honoree receives a $500 award to purchase classroom STEM supplies.

“Our recipients are winners!  Winners for their students. Winners for their communities.  Winners for our state, and winners for the teaching profession,” said Amanda Buice, GYSTC executive director.  “They exemplify everything we want and hope our teachers will be.  It is our duty and delight to honor them!”

Ms. Dean, who teaches classes in the K-5 Science Lab she established in 2022, and Ms. Klingbeil, who teaches eighth-grade science and serves as the school’s science department head, will be recognized by the Cherokee County School Board and Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis at the School Board’s January meeting.

This prestigious accolade follows numerous other honors earned by Ms. Klingbeil, who has taught at Freedom MS since she began her teaching career in 2016, and Ms. Dean, who began her teaching career in 2006 and joined Hickory Flat ES in 2017.  

A Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, Ms. Dean’s past honors have included two Teacher of the Year titles from previous school districts and the Golden Apple Award from Delta Kappa Gamma.  Ms. Klingbeil earned her school’s 2023 Teacher of the Year award and was instrumental, as a Discovery Ed teacher leader, in its recent Cognia STEM Certification. 

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