Beyond the science fair: A teacher cultivates lifelong curiosity

Michelle L. Beineman, an eighth-grade science teacher at McCullough Junior High School in Conroe, Texas, has been honored as the 2026 recipient of the Truman T. Bell Extraordinary Service Award by the Texas Science and Engineering Fair (TXSEF).

This prestigious award recognizes Texas educators, sponsors and advocates who exceed their expected roles to support students, colleagues and communities through their dedication to TXSEF.

“To be recognized at the state level of the science fair for the work I have done with students is no small thing,” said Beineman, a seasoned educator of 13 years. “Knowing that this recognition was not just based on my students’ work and success at the fair, but on the work I have put into all of my students — as well as my entire district and region — truly means the world to me.”

Beineman is the fifth recipient of the award since its establishment in 2022. As the granddaughter of a social studies teacher and decorated school board member — and the daughter of a middle school math teacher — she was surrounded by devoted educators from a young age.

“I have been blessed by having amazing teachers in science and math growing up,” Beineman said. “Several of my teachers left me feeling empowered in my own understanding — lighting a fire inside me to learn more.”

Despite growing up in a family deeply connected to education, Beineman was not always certain she would follow the same path. 

“Teaching was not my first career choice, and I wasn’t sure it was where I wanted to land,” she said.

After spending several years exploring different career paths, Beineman finally discovered a way to promote STEM literacy and encourage others to engage in their natural curiosities: teaching junior high science.

“Teaching is the only field where all of my idiosyncrasies merge, which empowers me to reach junior high students,” Beineman said. “I have always been deeply inquisitive by nature, making science a wonderful fit for me. As a subject, it is all about engaging curiosity and answering the questions about the world around us. When I finally ended up in my own classroom teaching science, it was as though I was exactly where I was meant to be.”

Cultivating scientific inquiry through science fairs

For the past decade, Beineman has sponsored various TXSEF research projects, guiding students as they transform curiosity into meaningful scientific inquiry.

“Science fair participation is the single best thing we do in junior high to help prepare students for high school,” she said. “They provide students with a unique opportunity to improve their skills in academic research, technical writing, data analysis, verbal communication skills and writing, as well as long-term project management.”

For Beineman, the most rewarding moments come when a student truly begins to understand a concept and takes ownership of their learning.

“When a concept finally clicks for a student, you can almost see the shift happen in real time; it’s like watching puzzle pieces fall into place,” she said. “As the teacher, it’s incredibly rewarding. It’s not just about getting the right answer — it’s about seeing the student take ownership of the idea. They start explaining it in their own words, making connections, asking deeper questions or helping someone else.”

It is that sense of discovery and passion for learning that inspires Beineman to look forward to the science fair process more than any award or recognition.

“Even when students complete a project that is not award-winning, there is a sense of accomplishment as they have taken on a multi-month project and seen it to completion,” she said. “That sense of accomplishment can be built upon as they continue to pursue their future endeavors.”

One project continues to stand out to Beineman years later. A student once approached her, eager to participate in TXSEF, and together they developed a research project on the salinity tolerance of different plant species in brackish water. Through that experience, the student discovered a passion for ecology and biology — an interest that continued to grow long after the competition ended. Today, that same student is a junior at Texas A&M University, majoring in biology.

“The greater exposure students can have to the available branches of science, the more likely they are to find their interest within STEM,” she said. “I am deeply committed to TXSEF because it provides students with access to opportunities and experiences they might not otherwise encounter.”

Creating meaningful research opportunities

Beineman hopes that students continue to embrace their imagination and curiosity through educational experiences, while teachers continue to create meaningful opportunities for students to explore.

“Science is all about engaging curiosity and answering questions about the world around us,” she said. “What drew me to science education was the opportunity to help students explore their natural curiosity, dig deeper into those answers and ultimately increase scientific literacy.”

For Beineman, science education is rooted in curiosity — encouraging students to ask questions about the world around them and empowering them to actively seek out answers.

“Your passion and energy for research will be infectious for your students. Get curious about your students’ interests,” she said. “I encourage students to find their own passion for research and discovery by engaging them in conversations and asking guiding questions — not just what they are interested in, but why. I’ve found that it’s in the ‘why’ that students really begin to uncover their passions.”

To learn how to connect your STEM classroom with Texas A&M Engineering and provide students with meaningful, real-world research experiences, explore the Spark! PK-12 Engineering Education Outreach Program.