GREENVILLE, Texas — A Greenville Early College High School educator has been recognized for excellence in STEM education and his impact on students both inside and outside the classroom.
Joel Pitts has been named the Air & Space Forces Association Chapter 416 Northeast Texas Teacher of the Year, an honor recognizing educators who demonstrate outstanding performance in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Pitts was selected for his commitment to hands-on learning and his ability to engage students in real-world problem-solving. He teaches engineering and other courses within the Early College program, where students are encouraged to think critically and collaborate.
He also serves as head sponsor of the Iron Lions Solar Car Team, which recently competed in Australia as the only high school team in the world participating in the event.
“I am so proud of each of the students I teach,” Pitts said. “Each one brings a unique perspective to their engineering projects, making them both thoughtful and innovative.”
School leaders said Pitts’ teaching style creates an engaging and challenging environment for students.
“Mr. Pitts is an incredible teacher and so deserving of this award,” said Dr. Rebekah Russler, Chancellor of Greenville Early College High School. “He brings engineering to life by providing his students with hands-on, challenging activities that push them to problem solve and collaborate.”
As the Chapter 416 recipient, Pitts will be honored at a regional awards event this spring and will be eligible for consideration at the state and national levels.
District officials noted this marks the second consecutive year a Greenville Early College High School teacher has received the honor, following a 2024 recipient.
