Michael Pope APO, AP | DoDEA | 7-12, Science, 2017

The official biography below was current at the time of the award. For this awardee's latest biographical information, see their profile page.

Michael Pope has been an educator for more than 20 years and has spent the last 13 teaching eighth-grade science at Zama Middle High School in the Japan East School District. Previously, he taught for five years at Stephenson Middle School in Georgia and three years at Shirley Lanham Elementary School in Atsugi, Japan. Michael's passion for teaching goes beyond the classroom. He has engaged in a fellowship to Colombia to examine STEM teaching and has been awarded a National Education Association Foundation Fellowship to South Africa. After returning from his experience in Colombia, Michael established an online platform to connect classrooms in his school and in Colombia with language and cultural exchange opportunities. During a recent course to obtain National Geographic Certification, Michael linked science inquiry, geographical skills, and the teaching of empathy to food insecurity, import/export, and the United Nations' Zero Hunger Sustainability goal into his curriculum - leading to a student service project collecting food for the local Japanese community. Michael earned a B.S.E. in middle school education from Georgia State University and a M.Ed. from Brenau University. He is certified in middle school social studies, science, mathematics, and gifted education and is certified in Japanese studies.

• High-resolution version of the official portrait photograph
• Awardee holding Presidential certificate with National Science Foundation Directorate for Education and Human Resources Assistant Director, Dr. Karen Marrongelle, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director, Dr. Kelvin K. Droegemeier, and National Science Foundation Chief Operating Officer, Dr. F. Fleming Crim
• High-resolution version of the teacher profile photograph

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