Teaching is not only my profession, but my chosen vocation. I am a firm believer that fundamental concepts and skills are developed from infancy through the primary years. This award will recognize and support my continued efforts to supply my students with active, hands-on, student-centered inquiry, which is the core of good science education. I am also thrilled about the Presidential Award program events, which will expose me to even more innovative and effective teaching strategies.

Lauren Tate Washington, DC | K-6, Science, 2010

The official biography below was current at the time of the award.

Lauren Tate has enjoyed being an educator for 19 years. She teaches at the Capitol Hill Cluster School (CHCS), Watkins Elementary Campus. She has taught first and second grade and is presently thrilled to specialize in mathematics and science for second grade. Lauren serves on the Executive Board of the CHCS Parent Teacher Association as a teacher representative. She was elected to serve on a Community Advisory Panel charged with identifying a new principal for her school. Her commitment to educating all goes beyond her students. Every year, Lauren hosts a Parent Night to explain the curriculum. She teaches parents mathematics and science games to play with their children at home in order to help them understand that these subjects are a part of everyday life. Last summer, Lauren attended the Alice Fergusen Foundation's (AFF) Teacher Institute. She learned innovative activities to make outdoor science accessible to her students in an exciting way. Students will use the school's Living Classroom in all content areas. She has continued her relationship with AFF on the Outdoor Classroom Committee, which helps teachers go beyond the four walls of their classroom. Lauren has a B.S. in psychology with minors in education and chemistry from Howard University. She has early childhood certification.

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