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2023-24 Milken Educators
Photo 6 of 69
Michael Tapee (AR '23)
Teacher, Hellstern Middle School | Springdale, Arkansas
Mathematics and computer science teacher Michael Tapee received the first Milken Educator Award of the season at Hellstern Middle School on October 3, 2023.
Tapee sparks his Springdale sixth and seventh grade students’ interest in STEM. Students learn proportional relationships from a NASA guest speaker, explore trajectory through a rocket-building project, and design, calculate, and 3D-print apartment floor plans. Tapee co-created and developed Hellstern’s award-winning Herobotics program, a competitive robotics team designed to help students pursue STEM outside of the classroom. Additionally, he has taken on various leadership roles: team-leading Hellstern’s guiding coalition, organizing back-to-school adult learning exercises, leading professional development seminars, speaking at education conferences, contributing to student success podcasts and building Hellstern’s Year in Review. He frequently speaks in classes at his alma mater, the University of Arkansas, and often works with aspiring teachers.
Tapee earned a bachelor’s in history and a mathematics minor in 2015 from the University of Arkansas, as well as a master’s in teaching in 2016. In 2023, he completed an education specialist program with a concentration in educational leadership and principalship from Arkansas State University.
All photos should be credited to "Milken Family Foundation" unless otherwise noted.
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