Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Partner with School Teams for the STEM+C Competition Grant

Reach out to our School's TSA, SkillsUSA, HOSA, and DECA clubs for these $5000 grants that facilitate their participation in important opportunities related to their CTE Coursework.  Applications are due September 18 !

The STEM+C Competition Grant application is available to schools seeking to establish a new STEM+C competition team or to enhance an existing team. Eligible schools may request up to $5,000 per team, with a maximum of two teams funded in a division during the 2026–27 academic year. The total award per division may not exceed $10,000. 

The purpose of the STEM+C Competition Grant is to: 

• Increase awareness of career pathways in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and computer science (STEM+C) among educators and students. 

• Engage students in extracurricular STEM+C-related activities through problem-based and project-based team competitions. 

• Support the development and expansion of STEM+C competition teams across the Commonwealth. 

• Strengthen STEM+C literacy through hands-on, problem-driven, integrated learning experiences that promote collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making while exploring the challenges and opportunities central to the STEM+C Competition Team Grant Initiative. 

The 2026 Guidelines for Qualifying for the STEM+C Competition Grant, along with the application materials, are below. Completed applications must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on September 18, 2026. 

Grant applications will be reviewed in the order in which completed and eligible submissions are received. If the total amount of eligible grant requests exceeds available funding, priority will be given to applications proposing the creation of new STEM+C competition teams that demonstrate clear financial need.  



Thursday, September 3, 2026

Aviation / ROTC Teacher recognized by Arlington Magazine

 


Tony Frazier (Photo by Michael Ventura)

Tony Frazier

Aviation Technology, Entrepreneurship and Drones Teacher
Arlington Career Center (a STEM-oriented high school)
Years Teaching: 25
Frazier spent 20 years in Air Force intelligence, retiring as a technical sergeant before taking up teaching and running Junior ROTC programs in Prince George’s County, Maryland and in West Virginia. He has received teaching awards from the Air & Space Forces Association and the Virginia Department of Education, most recently earning second place for the National Air & Space Forces Association/Rolls Royce Aerospace STEM Teacher of the Year. He is also a commercial pilot.

  • My students use flight simulators, maps, GPS, visual and paper navigation, weather information, aircraft checklists and other hands-on activities to understand how aviation works. The program exposes them to flying aircraft, drones, military aviation, engineering, aircraft maintenance, and the decision-making pilots use to communicate, plan and stay safe. Students are not just learning about airplanes; they are building discipline, confidence, problem-solving skills and career awareness that can help them see aviation and aerospace as real possibilities for their future. 
  • My big foundation for my classes, being from the military, is respect. I’m respecting you, you’re respecting me. 
  • I would never have chosen the teaching profession initially, but I love it. I like to watch the growth process.
  • I now have about 50 former students who will be pilots, engineers, aircraft maintenance folks. Maybe they’re flying for fun. I’m a part of that process, no matter what they decide to do, and that’s nice. I teach them, and they run with it.
  • One former student is an FBI agent. He said to me, “I want to thank you for staying on me and keeping me disciplined. Everything you said helped me become a federal agent. Now I understand.” 
  • It’s easy for teachers to burn out if they aren’t here for the right reasons. You have to want it. It’s not about you, it’s about the students.