Nine recipients of the 2026 Outstanding STEM Educator Awards gather with OCDE staff following the Aug. 4 awards celebration at the Orange County Department of Education Conference Center in Costa Mesa. 
An attendee reviews the program for the 2026 Outstanding STEM Educator Awards Celebration, held Aug. 4 at the Orange County Department of Education Conference Center in Costa Mesa. 
Ashton Fontyn of Robert M. Pyles STEM Academy in the Magnolia School District receives an Outstanding K-12 STEM Educator Award during the Aug. 4 celebration. 
Family members, friends and colleagues react during the 2026 Outstanding STEM Educator Awards Celebration. 
Dean Gilbert of the Orange County Science & Engineering Fair receives an Outstanding Community Advocate in STEM Education Award. 
Guests watch as Orange County educators and community leaders are recognized for their contributions to STEM education. 
Eric Garwick of Robert M. Pyles STEM Academy in the Magnolia School District receives an Outstanding K-12 STEM Educator Award. 
Guests watch as Orange County educators and community leaders are recognized for their contributions to STEM education. 
Greg Miller of the Orange Unified School District receives an Outstanding Leadership in STEM Education Award. 
Holly Kiernan of Harbor View Elementary School in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District receives an Outstanding K-12 STEM Educator Award. 
Kathleen Margaretich of El Morro Elementary School in the Laguna Beach Unified School District receives an Outstanding K-12 STEM Educator Award. 
Lisa Prins of Los Alamitos Elementary School and Splatter Learning receives an Outstanding Expanded Learning STEM Educator Award. ( 
Dr. Jonathan Swanson, OCDE assistant superintendent of Educational Services, addresses attendees during the 2026 Outstanding STEM Educator Awards Celebration. 
Robin Van Vorhis of the Orange County Science & Engineering Fair receives a Leadership in STEM Education Award. 
Thomas Duarte of Anaheim High School, center, receives an Outstanding Career Awareness Educator Award alongside OCDE and Inside the Outdoors staff.
Quick look: Nine of Orange County’s 11 Outstanding STEM Educators gathered with family members, friends and colleagues Aug. 4 for an awards celebration honoring their contributions to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.
Laughter, applause and plenty of proud supporters filled the Orange County Department of Education Conference Center on Aug. 4 as some of the county’s leading STEM educators and advocates stepped forward to receive recognition for their work.
Nine of the 11 recipients of the 2026 Outstanding STEM Educator Awards attended the annual celebration in Costa Mesa, where family members, friends, colleagues and education leaders gathered to recognize their contributions to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.
Presented by OCDE in partnership with Inside the Outdoors, the awards recognize educators and community leaders who create opportunities for students to explore STEM through hands-on learning, career exploration, mentorship and other experiences.
This year’s honorees represented schools, districts and community organizations throughout Orange County, with awards spanning K-12 instruction, career awareness, expanded learning, community advocacy and leadership in STEM education.
A celebration of impact
For John Fox, OCDE’s program specialist for mathematics, seeing the honorees surrounded by the people who support their work made the celebration particularly meaningful.
“There was something incredibly special about recognizing the Orange County Department of Education’s 2026 Outstanding STEM Educators,” Fox said. “Seeing the recipients surrounded by their families, friends and colleagues was truly inspiring. The evening was filled with laughter, smiles and so much joy, and I felt an overwhelming sense of pride knowing that these remarkable educators are helping to transform the lives of students across Orange County.”
Fox said the recognition also underscored the broader impact of the recipients’ work.
“The evening was a powerful affirmation of the importance of their work and the lasting impact they have on the students they serve,” he said.
The 11 recipients were selected through a competitive nomination and review process by a panel of educators and community leaders. This year’s honorees include:
- Kim Chanda, Solis Park K-8 School, Irvine Unified School District — Outstanding K-12 STEM Educator
- Thomas Duarte, Anaheim High School, Anaheim Union High School District — Outstanding Career Awareness Educator
- Ashton Fontyn, Robert M. Pyles STEM Academy, Magnolia School District — Outstanding K-12 STEM Educator
- Eric Garwick, Robert M. Pyles STEM Academy, Magnolia School District — Outstanding K–12 STEM Educator
- Dean Gilbert, Orange County Science & Engineering Fair, Outstanding Community Advocate in STEM Education
- Holly Kiernan, Harbor View Elementary School, Newport-Mesa Unified School District — Outstanding K–12 STEM Educator
- Kathleen Margaretich, El Morro Elementary School, Laguna Beach Unified School District — Outstanding K–12 STEM Educator
- Greg Miller, Orange Unified School District — Outstanding Leadership in STEM Education
- Lisa Prins, Los Alamitos Elementary School and Splatter Learning, Los Alamitos Unified School District, Outstanding Expanded Learning STEM Educator
- Gordon Richardson, Robert M. Pyles STEM Academy, Magnolia School District — Outstanding Career Awareness Educator in STEM
- Robin Van Vorhis, Orange County Science & Engineering Fair — Leadership in STEM Education
Collectively, the recipients have expanded opportunities for students in areas including robotics, engineering, computer science, environmental science, esports, scientific research and career exploration.
For more information about OCDE’s efforts to support STEM education through hands-on learning, collaboration and innovation, visit the department’s webpage.