Cold Spring School educator Genevieve McLeish-Petty recently was honored for her work in teaching and promoting STEM education by the Women & Hi-Tech Foundation.
McLeish-Petty, a computer science teacher at Cold Spring, was named the recipient of the Outstanding Educator in STEM Award on Oct. 6 during the 2022 Leading Light Award and Scholarship Gala. The event was at the Indiana Roof Ballroom.
McLeish-Petty joined the Cold Spring staff in 2018, quickly becoming the school’s leader in STEM education and being credited by her peers with transforming the computer science education and training programs for both teachers and students.
“I am constantly grateful for the opportunity to work with children I adore doing things that I love.” McLeish-Petty said. “When awards and honors are bestowed upon me, I am always surprised that people see what I do as noteworthy, as it is the students that I have the privilege of teaching I find amazing.
“I am very fortunate to have administrators that are constantly supportive and make it possible for me to do the most I can for the children that I am in contact with,” she said. “Having worked with IPS kids for 24 years I am inspired by their willingness to try and their tenacity to persevere. I am looking forward to my next 15 years.”
During the program, which was emceed by Jennie Lopez, head of Global Recruiting and Talent Acquisition for Eli Lilly and Company, Women & Hi Tech announced more than $50,000 in scholarships and grants to diverse women and girls at all stages of their STEM careers and recognized 10 Leading Light Award recipients.