MCLEAN, Va.—May 13, 2026—Shell USA Inc. and the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) today announced the grand-prize winners in the Shell Science Lab Regional Challenge. The competition encouraged K–12 teachers who have found innovative ways to deliver quality lab experiences using limited school and laboratory resources to share their approaches for a chance to win a school science lab makeover support package.

To enter the Shell Science Lab Regional Challenge, K–12 science teachers located in select school districts near Shell USA Inc. assets were asked to describe their school’s current laboratory resources, explain why laboratory upgrade support is needed, and detail their approach to science education instruction using their school’s current lab facilities. A panel of science educators then reviewed and selected the top entries.

“Teachers who compete for this award accomplish so much with limited resources,” said Beverly DeVore-Wedding, PhD, president of NSTA. “This award helps these resourceful educators amplify impact and highlights the tireless commitment of inspiring science educators. NSTA salutes them for their dedication to providing extraordinary science education while sparking curiosity and driving success in every student.” 

2026 Shell Science Lab Regional Challenge Grand-Prize Winners

Elementary Level: Mistie Barron
Fairmont Elementary School
Pasadena, Texas

Barron creates a student-focused environment that emphasizes active, inquiry-based learning. She strives to make every activity student-centered, encouraging student curiosity and engagement while they explore and test science concepts. Barron provides lab-based activities where students learn real-world science applications while working directly with related materials. Past NSTA conferences helped her gain valuable insights into STEM best practices and connect with educators nationwide, which inspired many ideas for her lab transformation. 

The award funds helped upgrade her lab, which revolutionized her teaching. With organized cabinets, labeled resources, and hands-on kits, she now delivers inquiry-based lessons efficiently. Winning this award shifted her approach from teacher-led demonstrations to more beneficial student-driven investigations. Tools like stream tables, adaptation stations, and circuit kits make abstract concepts tangible and spark excitement in students, leading to deeper understanding and improved participation. 

Middle Level: Erica Carter
Houma Junior High School
Houma, Louisiana

Carter nurtures students’ natural curiosity about science while building a strong foundation in scientific thinking. In her supportive classroom space she encourages students to take risks, make mistakes, and learn from them. She emphasizes the value of evidence-based reasoning and real-world problem solving to help prepare students for academic and career success. By fostering a dynamic, student-centered learning environment, she aims to ignite a lifelong passion for science and empower students to see themselves as capable, innovative thinkers who can make meaningful contributions to the world. 

The award funds for Carter’s lab update helped provide hands-on, inquiry-based learning for approximately 700 seventh- and eighth-grade students. New kits allow students to collect data, model abstract concepts, and engage in evidence-based investigations. Labs are now safe, efficient, and repeatable, letting students focus on investigation rather than logistics. Carter even provided a schoolwide weather station, which expanded STEM opportunities beyond her classroom, allowing students to collect and analyze real-world data while making cross-curricular connections. Student learning has grown through increased engagement, and students are more willing to take intellectual risks, analyze data critically, and communicate evidence-based conclusions.

High School Level: Jose Rivas
Lennox Math, Science, and Technology Academy
Lennox, California

Rivas’s classroom is driven by autonomy and intrinsic motivation where students take ownership of their learning in a flexible learning environment. On a typical day he works with individual students and teams, setting up learning goals to help them plan short- and long-term projects. Rivas minimizes lectures and provides a forum for discussion driven by collaboration between students and himself, peers, and visiting professionals. This classroom environment models the environment he had while working at Boeing. He emphasizes the “why” of their projects, which drives how students connect and engage with developing their solutions. 

The funds from this award have transformed Rivas’s science program. Upgraded equipment helped teachers redesign instruction around hands‑on investigations that strengthen scientific understanding and academic language. The new equipment also improved instructional alignment, helping the department to vertically coordinate the curriculum and select tools that support science literacy. The state science proficiency rose to 55%, demonstrating a clear connection between updated equipment, stronger instructional practices, and improved outcomes.

In addition to the school science lab makeover support package—valued at $15,000 (for the elementary winner) and $20,000 (for the middle level and high school winners)—each grand prize–winning teacher will receive support valued up to additional $5,000 to be used to attend a future NSTA National Conference on Science Education.

The grand-prize winners and their principals were formally recognized for their achievement during a ceremony at the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Anaheim, California, in April.

For more information about the Challenge, visit the competition website.

About Shell USA Inc.
Shell USA Inc. is an affiliate of the Royal Dutch Shell plc, a global group of energy and petrochemical companies with operations in more than 70 countries. In the United States, Shell USA Inc. operates in 50 states and employs more than 20,000 people working to help tackle the challenges of the new energy future.

FOR INQUIRIES, CONTACT Shell USA Inc. Media Line: 832-33-SHELL.

About NSTA
The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) is a vibrant community of 35,000 science educators and professionals committed to best practices in teaching science and its impact on student learning. NSTA offers high-quality science resources and continuous learning so that science educators grow professionally and excel in their career. For new and experienced teachers alike, the NSTA community offers the opportunity to network with like-minded peers at the national level, connect with mentors and leading researchers, and learn from the best in the field. For more information, visit www.nsta.org, or following NSTA on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, or Bluesky.

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Contact
Kate Falk, NSTA
(703) 312-9211
kfalk@nsta.org