Megumi Yoshioka-Tarver, the 2025 St Louis Chemistry Teacher-of-the-Year
We are pleased to announce that Dr Megumi Yoshioka-Tarver, MICDS Upper School science faculty member, has been awarded the 2025 High School Chemistry Teaching Award. This prestigious recognition honors Dr Yoshioka-Tarver’s outstanding commitment to chemistry education, student engagement, and innovative teaching.
With a PhD in Chemistry and experience in academia, industry, and government, Dr Yoshioka-Tarver brings depth and relevance to the classroom. She teaches a range of courses — including AP Chemistry, environmental science, and food science — with an emphasis on inquiry, hands-on learning, and real-world applications. Her standout “Chemistry of Cooking” interim course combines culinary exploration with chemical principles, turning everyday experiences into powerful science lessons.
Dr Yoshioka-Tarver’s students are encouraged to take intellectual risks, ask questions, and connect science to their lives. She mentors independent research, supports participation in events like Battle of the Burets, and curates weekly “Molecule of Interest” flyers to spark curiosity in unexpected places. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes active learning and collaboration, fostering a space where students feel safe to explore, experiment, and grow.
Beyond the classroom, she is a life-long learner herself, and a leader in the chemistry education community. She regularly attends professional workshops and conferences, contributes to local teacher networks, and shares best practices with fellow educators.
“Dr. Megumi Yoshioka-Tarver inspires her students not only to understand chemistry, but to love it,” said her nominator. “She exemplifies the excellence ACS aims to celebrate.”
