The School District of Lee County is proud to announce that Barbara Rebeor, Science Department Chair and teacher at Harns Marsh Middle School, has been selected as a 2025–2026 Department of Defense (DoD) STEM Ambassador. Rebeor is one of only 30 educators nationwide to receive this prestigious honor for the upcoming year.
“I believe strong science teaching can completely change a student’s future,” Barbara Rebeor said. “Excellent teaching and getting kids involved in hands-on STEM challenges teaches them how to be bold thinkers, deep questioners, and resilient problem solvers. As a DoD STEM Ambassador for NSTA, I’m honored to push our mission forward: proving to every single student that they are capable scientists.”
Each Ambassador is chosen through a rigorous national application process led by organizations within the Defense STEM Education Consortium (DSEC) or by a DoD agency. Rebeor was selected as the official representative for the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA), one of the nation’s leading science education organizations. The DoD
STEM Ambassador Program, managed and facilitated by TGR Foundation since 2021, is a year-long initiative that provides funding, training, and national collaboration opportunities to advance STEM education and strengthen the future STEM workforce. Since the program’s inception, only 138 educators across the United States have earned this title.
A 2013 Golden Apple Teacher and the 2025–2026 District Teacher of the Year, Rebeor brings more than two decades of experience expanding equitable, hands-on, inquiry-based science learning for all students. Her work centers on ensuring every student, especially those historically underrepresented in STEM, has access to high-quality, real-world science experiences.
As an Ambassador, Rebeor is collaborating with STEM leaders across the nation, contributing to curriculum development, and sharing best practices with educators. She will present at STEM and education conferences across the country, including the 2025 NSTA National Conference in Anaheim. Rebeor recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to support national efforts in expanding high-quality STEM learning.
Rebeor was highlighted by NSTA for her leadership in science education and her commitment to transforming instructional practice. She has become a statewide resource for phenomenon-driven, three-dimensional science instruction, supporting educators in strengthening inquiry and sensemaking in their own classrooms. “Barbara Rebeor represents the very best. Her work embodies our mission to inspire curiosity, expand opportunity, and ensure that every student sees a place for themselves in the world of STEM.”
