Update: The 2026 winners were announced August 25, 2026. See the full list of 2026 winners.
Educators Pick Best of STEM® 2026 Awards finalists announced
Certified classroom teachers select the best STEM education products of 2026; winners announced August 25, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact: Annie Galvin Teich, The Teich Group, ateich@theteichgroup.net
Asheville, N.C., Aug. 4, 2026 — The Teich Group and Catapult X today announced the finalists for the Educators Pick Best of STEM® 2026 Awards, the only awards program judged by science and STEM educators. The 2026 finalist list below represents the best STEM education products of 2026, chosen by certified classroom teachers. New for 2026 is Educators Pick Best of AI, a dedicated category where educators judge the best products and services for AI in education. The awards program, operated in partnership with MCH Strategic Data, the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) and the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT), spotlights innovative products, technologies and services that are changing the world of STEM education and helping teachers discover the best STEM resources for their classrooms.
Educator judges from across the country validated the usefulness of each entrant. This year’s finalists represent teacher-tested tools their peers trust, from hands-on STEM kits and award-winning STEM curriculum to math intervention programs and after-school and out-of-school-time STEM programs.
In the new Educators Pick Best of AI category, judges closely examined how the best AI tools for teachers ensure safe, ethical use in the classroom. The 2026 categories also reflect continued growth in career and technical education, with CTE Champions honors spanning comprehensive CTE curriculum, engineering, health science, invention education and STEM.
Educator judges evaluated all product entries and selected the finalists listed below, and thousands of STEM educators will now have the opportunity to select the winners, who will be announced Aug. 25, 2026.
What makes these awards different? Every finalist is chosen by certified classroom teachers, specialists and district leaders, and every entry is rated on a Net Promoter Score (NPS) by the educators who judge it. Whether you’re a classroom teacher looking for hands-on science kits, a CTE director building career and technical education pathways or a curriculum leader seeking professional development for STEM teachers, these are the solutions your peers have tested and loved.
Led by Annie Galvin Teich, president of The Teich Group, this year’s judges included An Nguyen, Carrie Robledo, Erin Barr, Jamica Craig, Jason Aldridge, Kim Collazo, Dr. Linda Johnson-McClinton, Dr. Omah M. Williams-Duncan and Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth.
“This year, we introduced a new AI category for Best of STEM as our judges focused on safe and ethical AI use in their evaluations,” said lead judge Annie Galvin Teich. “There was also a strong showing in products with hands-on learning, and CTE offerings continue to expand as districts and local communities partner on economic opportunities. Our expert judges had an innovative and robust set of STEM products to evaluate this year.”
Educators Pick Best of STEM® 2026 Awards Finalists
Educators Pick Best of AI
- AI 101 from CodeAI (formerly Code.org)
- AI Essentials from JASON Learning
- AI Foundations from CodeAI (formerly Code.org)
- AI Teaching Assistant from CodeAI (formerly Code.org)
- AI Tutor from CodeAI (formerly Code.org)
- Gardyn from Gardyn for Schools
- Inquisitive Science K-5 from Inquisitive Science K-5
- Microsoft FarmBeats for Students from Pitsco Education
- Mix & Move with AI from CodeAI (formerly Code.org)
- Web Lab from CodeAI (formerly Code.org)
Best Hands-On Materials for OpenSciEd
- Carolina Certified Version of the OpenSciEd Physics 3 Variable Cart with Brake Kit from Carolina® Science
Best Professional Development
- Online and In-Person Professional Development from STEM Education Works
Best of STEM Curricular Materials: Pre-K to Grade 2
- Inquisitive Science K-5 from Inquisitive Science K-5
Best of STEM for Data Collection & Analysis
Best of STEM for Environmental Science
- Healthy Soil, Healthy Food from JASON Learning
Best of STEM for Forensics
- Forensic Entomology: Bugs & Guts Kit from Carolina® Science
Best of STEM for Mathematics
- STEMscopes Math from Accelerate Learning Inc.
Best of STEM for Out of School Time
- ABCmouse from Age of Learning
- Oceans to Orbits from Oceans to Orbits
- YES Enrichment from Museum of Science
Best of STEM for Space Science
- Carolina Kits 3D: Earth and Space Science: Stellar Origin of the Elements Kit from Carolina® Science
Best of STEM for Engineering Education
- Project Lead The Way Engineering from Project Lead The Way
Best of STEM: Hands-on Learning
- BacTalk Cell Signaling Kit from Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
- Drone Infinity from Pitsco Education
- Gardyn from Gardyn for Schools
- Project Lead The Way Gateway from Project Lead The Way
- Youth Engineering Solutions (YES) from Museum of Science
Bridging the Gap: Math Intervention Resources
- Ozobot K-2 Math Fluency Kit from Ozobot
- Reflex from ExploreK12
Bridging the Gap: Professional Development
- PBLWorks TEACH™ from PBLWorks
CTE Champions: Comprehensive CTE Solutions
- iCEV Comprehensive CTE Solution from iCEV
CTE Champions: Engineering
- iCEV’s Engineering Courses from iCEV
CTE Champions: Health Science
- Sports Injury Assessment Trainers from Realityworks
CTE Champions: Invention Education
CTE Champions: STEM
- SAE International’s A World In Motion® (AWIM®) from SAE International
Social Impact Award: Developing Citizen Scientists
- Water Matters from JASON Learning
Trailblazer: Biotechnology Innovator
- BacTalk Cell Signaling Kit from Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
Trailblazer: Early Learning (Pre-K–6)
- ABC mouse from Age of Learning
Trailblazer: Immersive Reality (AR/VR)
- EduverseSTEM from Avantis Education, creators of ClassVR
Trailblazer: Inspiring Computational Thinking
- SAE International’s A World In Motion® (AWIM®): Computer Science Series from SAE International
Trailblazer: Middle School STEM—Grades 4–8
- Gizmos Investigations from ExploreK12
- YES Middle School from Museum of Science
Trailblazer: Phenomena-Based Teaching and Learning
- Gizmos STEM Cases from ExploreK12
- Smithsonian Science for the Classroom® from Carolina® Science
Trailblazer: Simulations for STEM
- Gizmos STEM Cases from ExploreK12
STEM educators interested in becoming a judge for the Educators Pick Best of STEM® 2027 Awards should contact Teich at ateich@theteichgroup.net. For more information about the awards program, visit www.bestofstemawards.com.
About Catapult X
Founded by Daylene Long, Catapult X is a market and product development company that consults exclusively with science and STEM/STEAM education and CTE industry partners—organizations, businesses, and associations—to amplify educator voices through market research that edtech companies trust with their most critical business decisions. Long catapults brand, product, and sales growth through alignment of data and strategy, using progressive research techniques and customer discovery. Long publishes national surveys on STEM education and STEM marketing infographics to guide edtech marketers across the globe. Long is an affiliate member of the Council of State Science Supervisors, a member of NSELA, and a twenty-year member of NSTA. Long connects her clients to administrators, educators, distributors, and media to build strong global partnerships. Follow Catapult X on LinkedIn.
About MCH Strategic Data
MCH Strategic Data is a first-class leading provider of data and technology solutions in education, religion, healthcare, and government. MCH is dedicated to providing superior solutions through its ongoing investment in people, data and technology. Learn more at www.mchdata.com or find them on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
About NABT
Since its establishment in 1938, the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) has been the recognized “leader in life science education.” Thousands of educators have joined NABT to share experiences and expertise with colleagues from around the globe, keep up with trends and developments in the field, and grow professionally. For more information about NABT, please visit www.NABT.org.
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