This month, we turn our STEM spotlight on Chuck Tonelli, our 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Award winner from the Southeast Iowa STEM Region.

Tonelli was presented with the award alongside colleagues and students on Monday, March 3, during STEM Day at the Capitol. Tonelli is a science teacher at Metro High School, in the Cedar Rapids Community School District. In his 20 years teaching at Metro, Tonelli has also served as robotics coach, president of the Iowa Association of Alternative Education, and various other roles.

More than 10 years ago, Tonelli co-founded Metro STEAM Academy with colleagues Shannon Ellis and Matt Secl. Metro STEAM Academy is a project-based, cross-curricular program that engages students in community-based projects, helping them build vital problem-solving, critical-thinking, and communication skills. The academy has collaborated with more than 100 community partners to engage students in projects such as designing and constructing museum exhibits, weather balloons, a comprehensive greenhouse and outdoor-learning space at Metro High School, and much more, leading the school community in its unifying belief: "Whatever it takes."

"I am so grateful to the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council and my colleagues for this recognition," says Tonelli. "More than me individually, this award speaks to the work we have done to innovate and collaborate. It is recognition to my colleagues and my school for the incredible work we have done engaging students in STEM education."

With the award, Tonelli received $3,000, $1,500 of which to be spent on his classroom, and $1,500 as a personal award. The award is presented by the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council at the Iowa Department of Education and is sponsored by Google.