The Presidential Award is the pinnacle of my career and confirms that an innovative approach to teaching science through experiential learning promotes an effective educational environment. Community and district support can transform any classroom by creating relevant learning experiences. I am grateful to be surrounded by and share this honor with a community whose support has transformed my classroom and led to a learning environment where all students can be successful.

Krista Marcum Fleming Gulf Shores, AL | 7-12, Science, 2021

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

Krista Fleming has taught for 15 years and for the past six years at Gulf Shores High School. Previously, she taught at Saraland Middle and High Schools for seven years, Ready for Life Alternative School and Scribner Middle School for one year each, and Maplewood Elementary for three years. As the Gulf Shores City Schools Science by the Shore Committee Chair, Krista works with teachers to develop science lessons to integrate in classrooms K-12. She also teaches Environmental Science, Advanced Placement (AP) Environmental Science, Biology, and Marine Biology to grades 9-12. Krista’s students learn science through hands-on, engaging experiences. They collaborate with Little Lagoon Preservation Society to grow oysters for restoration, which provides ecological benefits, such as habitat and filtration for the lagoon and restores reefs that have been destroyed due to pollution, disease, and overharvesting in Mobile Bay. Students also restore sand dunes in Gulf State Park through planting native plants and placing discarded Christmas trees to protect our area from coastal flooding and storm surge. Krista has presented at state and national conferences and conducted webinars focusing on sustainability and experiential learning. Krista is a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) currently serving as President of the Alabama NBCT Network. She is the 2021-2022 Alabama State Science Teacher of the Year and was a 2021 finalist for Alabama Teacher of the Year. She earned a B.S. in elementary education from Indiana University, an M.S. in curriculum and instructional leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University, and an Ed.S., magna cum laude, in educational leadership from Arkansas State University. She is currently certified in secondary science and educational administration.

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