Jamie Sorrell, an alumna of The University of Southern Mississippi (’07) and an educator at Sumrall High School, was named the 2025 American Chemical Society (ACS) Mississippi Local Section High School Teacher of the Year.
“Jamie exemplifies what we want to see in education in this state,” said Dr. Hugh Broome, associate teaching professor in the School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and representative of the ACS Mississippi Section. “Her commitment to her students and advancing chemistry education has had a measurable and lasting impact.”
Sorrell has been an active participant in academic programming for the School of Polymer Science and Engineering and a longstanding champion of hands-on science education, serving as a valued partner in polymer outreach efforts at Southern Miss. Over the years, she has helped expand access to meaningful laboratory and classroom experiences for students, connecting cutting-edge polymer science to real-world learning in Sumrall High School classrooms. Her dedication to experiential education and her commitment to student success exemplify the type of impact-driven teaching that strengthens Mississippi’s STEM pipeline.
“As a teacher, it is essential to remain an active learner, continually improve my craft and embrace new ways to show students what is current and innovative in my field of study,” Sorrell said.
In addition to her classroom leadership, she has contributed to the Middle School Teachers Workshop, where she shares practical pedagogical strategies for integrating polymer science into middle school curricula. She also participated in the National Science Foundation–funded Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) program, a six-week immersive summer initiative that places high school educators in active research laboratories at Southern Miss within the School of Polymer Science and Engineering.
During her time in the RET program, Sorrell made significant scholarly contributions. She co-authored two research manuscripts, including one recently published in the journal Chemistry of Materials focused on cell-based scaffolds for tissue regeneration. Her second manuscript, currently in preparation, explores a polymer-focused classroom intervention designed to teach high school students the principles of experimental design.
Dr. Tristan Clemons, assistant professor of polymer science and Sorrell’s research mentor and collaborator, echoed that sentiment.
“Jamie epitomizes the type of teacher we want to encourage and support in STEM education,” Clemons said. “She is curious, thoughtful and a constant source of positivity. It has been a pleasure working with her both in the laboratory and as we continue to collaborate to bring polymer science into her classroom.”
Sorrell’s recognition highlights the strength of partnerships between Mississippi educators and research institutions, underscoring the vital role teachers play in inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators.