What great news: Our co-founder at sparks4school, Steffen Haschler, was honored with the “German Teachers’ Award – Innovative Teaching” in the “Outstanding Teachers” category. The award ceremony took place on February 23, 2026, in Berlin – and what made it so special was that Steffen was secretly nominated by students from the 2025 graduating class. You can’t get much more appreciation than that.
Steffen has been teaching mathematics, computer science, and physics at the Gymnasium des Englischen Instituts Heidelberg for more than 15 years – and like few others, he embodies the combination of pedagogical practice, technical expertise, and social responsibility. His focus: learning formats that really work in everyday life – modern, bold, and close to what young people need today.
Many also know Steffen as the driving force behind the BEAM (Business, Entrepreneurship, and Math) seminar course: our program, which will be implemented in around 40 schools in Baden-Württemberg in the coming school year and has long since developed internationally, together with partners from business and education. It is precisely this spirit – empowering students, shaping the future, opening up real opportunities – that is at the heart of sparks4school.
Steffen himself says that the award is a “wonderful affirmation” and, at the same time, an honor that belongs not only to him, but also to all those who make education possible every day. And his students sum it up quite simply (and quite touchingly): He has opened up opportunities for them “that go far beyond normal lessons.”
We are delighted and proud that Steffen embodies exactly what we stand for at sparks4school: Education that inspires. Skills that grow. A future we shape.
Congratulations, Steffen!
Selected press coverage:
Heidelberg native receives German teaching award, SWR
Steffen Haschler is “outstanding teacher” of the year, Mannheimer Morgen