Nicholas M. Massa, Springfield Technical Community College , Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, is the 2010 Educator Award winner in recognition of his multiple contributions to optics/photonics education over the past 23 years including: educating, mentoring and preparing hundreds of college students for the workforce; teaching in-service teachers and technicians in industry; serving on SPIE Education and ETOP long-range planning committees; developing new instructional materials and co-authoring a user-friendly introductory optics textbook.