The Presidential Award is a great honor. To be included with mentors and teachers I admire is both affirming and humbling. It inspires me to continue my work as a lifelong learner and educator. To be recognized at this level lets me know that all of the hard work, commitment, and sacrifice to do my best has made a difference – and that is what I have always wanted to do in my work.

Miranda Messer Louisville, KY | 7-12, Science, 2021

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

Miranda Messer has been a high school science educator for 20 years. She has spent the last six years at Central High School teaching biology, after working nine years as a district resource teacher influencing curriculum, assessment, and professional development. Miranda began her career at Ballard High School, where she taught science for five years. As the Montessori science lead at Central, Miranda collaborates and develops learning opportunities with other teachers and student leaders to provide meaningful real-world experiences, in addition to teaching a full schedule of six multiage high school science classes. She is passionate about providing opportunities for students, new teachers, and colleagues to develop skills and make lasting changes that will improve their connections to each other, their communities, and promote positive social change. She has implemented the 5E instructional model to facilitate student-centered classrooms and learning in NGSS science courses, collaborated with a team of cross-content teachers as part of building the first public high school Montessori program in Kentucky, mentored pre-service teachers, provided professional development for teachers, and been an Aspen Challenge coach. Miranda has presented sessions on student-centered learning and assessment at several state and national conferences and has also been published in the journal Glia. Miranda earned a B.A. in biology from Indiana University Southeast, an M.A.T. in secondary biological sciences from the University of Louisville, and an Education Specialist degree in instructional leadership and Rank I from the University of the Cumberlands. She is certified in secondary teaching of biological sciences with a certificate for science program consultant.

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