Montana Lowe Lee

West Palm Beach, FL | K-6, Mathematics, 2022

What motivates you to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching?

I’m motivated by the belief that every student deserves a classroom where they feel safe to take risks, make mistakes, and grow. In STEM, that environment is essential. I focus on helping students see struggle as part of learning and on building deep conceptual understanding, not just getting the right answer, but understanding why. When students gain confidence in their thinking and see how ideas connect, they’re empowered to apply their knowledge in meaningful ways.

What has been the most transformative moment that affirmed your impact on STEM education?

One of the most transformative moments has been hearing from former students years later who say my class changed how they see math and themselves. Maintaining those relationships reminds me that STEM education is about more than content, it's about connection, confidence, and helping students see their potential.

Using your platform as a Presidential Awardee, how do you hope to advance our nation in STEM?

As a Presidential Awardee, I want to use my platform to support initiatives that encourage and sustain women’s participation in STEM fields. I believe it’s essential to create environments where girls and women feel confident, valued, and supported in pursuing STEM careers. By mentoring educators and sharing best practices, I hope to help build a STEM community that inspires all students to explore, persist, and succeed, strengthening our nation’s future innovation and leadership.

Biography

Montana Lee has been teaching mathematics for ten years. Currently, she is working as a mathematics curriculum consultant and adjunct processor. Previously, she worked as a mathematics resource teacher for the School District of Palm Beach County and taught at Everglades Elementary and Piney Grove Elementary. She has primarily worked with students with learning challenges and English Language Learners in a welcoming environment. Montana is involved in many facets of math education and prioritizes relationships with her students and clients. She strives to pass her love of mathematics along by giving students opportunities to explore ideas and build connections. She runs a problem-based learning classroom where students productively struggle and succeed. Montana regularly plans and delivers targeted professional development, modeling effective math instruction. She collaborates with teachers to design innovative student data tracking initiatives and interview-style assessments that improve actionable data collection. She partners with educators to implement evidence-based strategies and adaptations for ESOL and ESE students, providing coaching and tailored interventions for diverse learners. Montana has served as a liaison between teachers and state legislation, focusing on the birth-to-third-grade mathematics continuum. She has also partnered with PuraVida Missions to support access to education for children living below the poverty line. Montana holds a B.S. in Family Child Sciences with a certificate in Developmental Disabilities and a nursing concentration from Florida State University. She earned a teaching certificate through The University of Phoenix and a Master of Arts in Teaching Mathematics from Mount Holyoke College.

High-resolution version of the teacher profile photograph

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