RATHDRUM - It seems only fitting that a teacher with the name of David Moon has earned a state science award.

Moon, a teacher at the North Idaho STEM Charter Academy in Rathdrum, will be awarded the Governor's Industry Award for Notable Teaching in STEM (GIANTS) Award as the best middle school science teacher in the state on April 15 at Gov. Butch Otter's office.

The honor is for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Moon uses a rocketry program to help teach students the relevance of math and trigonometry.

"It is David's constant connection of real-world applications to his daily classroom programs that keeps his kids engaged and their education relevant," said Colleen Thomson, the school's director of instruction.

"David stretches each of his students to different levels through questioning at higher levels. His students not only know what David is teaching, they understand why it is useful and how they can use it to create something. That is what we want for all our future inventors."

Thomson said Moon's classes are routinely in the gym or outside testing their projects and recording results.

"David Moon demonstrates the type of science instruction that should be going on in Idaho's classrooms today," Thomson said. "He has the tremendous ability to inspire all of his students."

North Idaho STEM is a K-8 school that started last fall.

The GIANTS program was initiated by the Office of the Governor and is sponsored by the Science and Technology Roundtable, a group of industry leaders including the Micron Foundation, Idaho National Laboratory, URS, Hewlett-Packard, LCF Enterprises and Idaho Power Company.

With support from the State Department of Education and Office of the State Board of Education, as well as the Discovery Center of Idaho, GIANTS recognizes teachers for their efforts to link industry and the economic future of Idaho to the classroom through the enhancement of science and technology education.