I generally hate talking about myself.  I like to share ideas on this little bit of blog space, but just this once, I’m going to share something that happened last Friday because I’m just so darn overwhelmed by all the kind words from colleagues that went into making it happen. 🙂

I found out on Friday, at a whole school convocation that I am the National recipient of the Shell Science Teaching Award!  I was completely shocked, humbled, and awed to be chosen.  Needless to say, I cried.  A lot.  I couldn’t get it together! 🙂  I was surprised…completely surprised!  I knew I was going to be recognized for being one of three finalists nationally, but had no idea that I was going to find out that I was the National winner!  In front of the entire school!!  I can’t do what I do without the entire group of people who were there to see it happen, the kids, the staff, and my family!

In order to get this award, I went through three rounds of judging.  In November, I submitted a paper talking about my philosophy of teaching science and what some of my favorite lessons were.  I made it through that round and found out I was one of 10 finalists nationally, so I had to submit a video of me teaching.  Then, I found out I was one of three finalists nationally and had a team of three teachers do a site visit.  They spent the entire day watching me teach, talking to my colleagues, administrators, and parents.  That’s the last I knew of anything–that I would be hearing about the results near the end of February. 🙂  Totally caught me off guard!! 🙂

Here I am with our Superintendent. 🙂 (See the blotchy red eyes?  🙂  )

Our Director of Elementary Education. 🙂

And everyone!  My Principal, Assistant Principal, Director of Elementary Education, me, hubby, my son, school board member, and our Superintendent. 🙂

This is my family…I can’t do what I do without them!

As part of this award, I get an all expense paid trip to Boston for the National Science Teachers Association conference, and I won $10,000!  Can you believe it??  I knew that going into the whole thing, but the reality of actually winning–well, it took awhile to set in!

I am so humbled to be chosen as the recipient of this award and can’t wait to get the message out that young children and learners can participate in Science and they can be very successful at it! 🙂

Best. Day. Ever.

Kristen 🙂