Science is for all of us. It helps us understand the world. Through questions, opportunities, and solutions, science unites us. The Presidential Award is a testament to the collective commitment of dedicated teachers everywhere who work to make science real for students, while simultaneously inspiring each other to grow and improve as educators. I am deeply grateful to be part of this community of educators and to share in the work of helping every learner know that science is for them.

Sarah Borzo Waukee, IA | K-6, Science, 2020

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

Sarah Borzo has been an educator for more than 11 years. She spent one year teaching sixth grade science at South Sioux City Middle School in South Sioux City, Nebraska, followed by 10 years teaching science at South Middle School in Waukee, Iowa, where she taught until 2020. Now, Sarah designs and delivers STEM- and inquiry-based instruction about the environment and sustainability to students of all ages across the Des Moines metropolitan area as the Education and Outreach Coordinator for Metro Waste Authority. Sarah is passionate about inquiry and equity. She strives to make science approachable and inviting by creating a space in which every student feels represented, relevant, and capable. She works to make science real for students through experiences that reflect authentic science and which require scientific thinking and action. As a lover of imaginative learning, Sarah incorporates rich explorations and immersive storylines into learning, putting students in a position to experience excitement, curiosity, and connection with and for science content, scientific thinking, and scientific practices. Sarah was the recipient of the 2020 Excellence in Science Teaching Award from the Iowa Academy of Science. She has presented about effective practices at conferences at the state and local levels. Sarah has published articles in the Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science as well as Science and Children and was co-author of an article accepted for publication in the Journal of Science Teacher Education in 2021. Sarah has a B.S. in elementary education from Iowa State University. She has continued graduate coursework to become a more impactful STEM educator and has endorsements in social studies and reading, as well as a middle school generalist endorsement.

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