FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

(Portland, OR) August 7, 2025 – The Teich Group and Catapult X announce the finalists for the Educators Pick Best of STEM® 2025 Awards, the only awards program judged by science and STEM educators. The awards program, operated in partnership with the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA), the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) and MCH Strategic Data, spotlights innovative products, technologies, and services that are changing the world of STEM education and helping educators discover the best STEM resources for teachers.

Educators across the country have helped to identify the best STEM resources for teachers through the Best of STEM Awards. This year’s finalists represent innovation, real-world classroom impact, and trusted tools teachers are excited to use.

The Educators Pick Best of STEM Awards feature newly expanded categories that reflect classroom needs and emerging trends in science and STEM education. These categories cover a wide range of classroom tools, from differentiated instruction and AI-powered learning to curriculum for early learners and advanced CTE programs.

Educator judges evaluated all product entries and selected the finalists listed below, and  thousands of STEM educators will have the opportunity to select the winners, who will be announced on August 26th, 2025.

What makes these awards different? All finalists are chosen by real educators, teachers, specialists, and district leaders. Whether you’re a classroom teacher looking for hands-on science kits or a curriculum director seeking scalable EdTech, 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 Dr. Linda Johnson-McClinton, Dr. Jeffrey Crapper, Dr. Omah M. Williams-Duncan, Jamica Craig, Erin Barr, Kim Collazo, and Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth.

“The judges for the Educators Pick Best of STEM Awards are long-term educators and veteran judges for us, so they’ve seen the program grow year by year,” said lead judge Annie Galvin Teich. “Our judges noted significant upgrades in student engagement, accessibility, and teacher support this year, as well as how to use AI safely and ethically.”

Educators Pick Best of STEM® 2025 Awards Finalists

AI Teaching Assistant of the Year

• Code.org AI Teaching Assistant from Code.org

Best AI Innovation for Teaching & Learning

• Code.org AI Chat Lab from Code.org

Best AI Literacy Solution

• Robo Wunderkind AI literacy curriculum for K-5 from Robo Wunderkind
  

Best Customer Support

• Code.org Customer Service from Code.org
• Carolina® Distance Learning from Carolina® Science

Best Digital Ecosystem for STEM Teachers

• PASCO Portal from PASCO Scientific

Best Freebies

• Code.org from Code.org
• ReMA Recycling Collection from JASON Learning

Best Hands-On Materials for OpenSciEd

• One-Way Mirror Model from PASCO Scientific

Best Innovation of 2025

Inquisitive PreK-5 Science from Inquisitive Science
Code.org Python Lab from Code.org

Best of STEM Curricular Materials: Pre-K to Grade 2

• Smithsonian Science for the Classroom™ from Carolina® Science
• JASON Learning x Playwatch Kids from JASON Learning

Best of STEM for Engineering Education

• Carolina® STEM Challenge® Kits from Carolina® Science

Best of STEM for Environmental Science

• EcoVillage from JASON Learning

Best of STEM for Mathematics

• Kiddom IM® v.360 from Kiddom
• Math Nation from Accelerate Learning Inc.

Best of STEM: Hands-on Learning

• Inquisitive PreK-5 Science from Inquisitive Science
• Carolina® Distance Learning Living Labs from Carolina® Science
• LYI’s Engineering Design: Toy Invention from The League of Young Inventors
• STEMscopes Math from Accelerate Learning Inc.
• Bring Science Alive! K-8 Science Programs from Teachers’ Curriculum Institute (TCI)
• A World In Motion® from SAE International

Best Professional Development

• Code.org AI 101 Professional Learning from Code.org
• BioTechBuilder Training from BioBuilder Educational Foundation
• National Institute for STEM Education (NISE) from National Institute for STEM Education

Best Resources for Analyzing and Interpreting Data

• Insights from data and AI unit from Code.org

Best Robotics for Teaching & Learning

• Ozobot Ari from Ozobot
• Seeker from Pitsco Education

Best Video-Based Learning

• Code.org How AI Works Video Series from Code.org

Bridging the Gap: Math Intervention Resources

• ExploreLearning Reflex from ExploreLearning

Bridging the Gap: Professional Development

• BioTechBuilder Training from BioBuilder Educational Foundation

CTE Champion: Manufacturing

• iCEV’s Manufacturing Curriculum from iCEV

CTE Champions: Comprehensive CTE Solutions

• iCEV’s Comprehensive Solution from iCEV

CTE Champions: Health Science

• iCEV’s Health Science Curriculum from iCEV

CTE Champions: STEM

• Trailer Circuits STEM Kit from Realityworks

Social Impact Award: Promoting Diversity & Equity Inclusion

• Code.org Equity in CS Professional Learning from Code.org

Trailblazer: Early Learning (Pre-K-6)

• Code.org Coding with Music from Code.org
• LYI’s Engineering Design: Toy Invention from The League of Young Inventors

Trailblazer: Immersive Reality (AR/VR)

• ClassVR from Avantis Education
• MindLabs from Explore Interactive, Inc.

Trailblazer: Middle School STEM—Grades 4-8

• Pathways to Your Future: STEM Career Exploration from JASON Learning
• Venom CoLab from Killer Snails
• databot from databot LLC

Trailblazer: Phenomena-Based Teaching and Learning

• ExploreLearning Gizmos STEM Cases from ExploreLearning

Trailblazer: Simulations for STEM

• ExploreLearning Gizmos STEM Cases from ExploreLearning

Trailblazer: Virtual Labs Luminary

• MindLabs from Explore Interactive, Inc.

STEM educators interested in becoming a judge for the Educators Pick Best of STEM® 2026 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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