The Presidential Award celebrates the effort and dedication that go into creating a positive learning environment and finding meaningful ways for all students to experience science. It is an honor that is shared with the teachers, mentors, colleagues, and students who have helped to shape me as an educator and person. I am grateful for the opportunities provided by this award: collaboration and continued professional growth as well as inspiration to always strive toward excellence.

Denise Kresslein Westminster, MD | K-6, Science, 2018

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

Denise Kresslein has been a science educator in Carroll County Public Schools for 17 years. Most recently, she taught at Westminster West Middle School for 14 years, primarily teaching sixth grade physical science, apart from one year during which she taught seventh grade. Previously, she taught Biology at South Carroll High School. In the fall, Denise will be a seventh-grade life science teacher at North Carroll Middle School. In the classroom, Denise focuses on creating a positive learning environment and designing lessons based on three-dimensional learning, using engaging phenomena in a story line format allowing students to experience science and explore concepts that lead to meaningful discoveries. Denise is a curriculum writer for Carroll County and mentor to other teachers within the county. She has also served on the Maryland integrated science assessment range-finding and standard setting committees for the Maryland State Department of Education. At Westminster West Middle, Denise was the science department coordinator, an adult mentor for Sources of Strength, and the Bluebird Club advisor. Denise earned a B.S. in biology from Gettysburg College and a M.S. in curriculum and instruction from McDaniel College. Her certifications include middle school science for fourth through ninth grades as well as secondary education for biology.

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