I feel the Presidential Award reflects an aspiration to become my best self while also inspiring others to fulfill their potential. This award is symbolic of the innermost journey a teacher takes to gain insightful understanding of how individuals learn. It marks the responsibility that we hold as educators to continually inspire positive change. This most prestigious award is a reminder to pause and pay our humbling respect to those who offer guidance and support as it is not a singular effort.

Kristi Fehr Lexington, KY | K-6, Science, 2018

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

Kristi Fehr is starting her 25th year of teaching and has been a kindergarten through fifth grade science lab teacher since 2006. She has spent the last five years at Cassidy Elementary School. Previously, she taught at Liberty Elementary and Southern Elementary. She discovered her passion for teaching science while serving as a Montessori Lead Teacher in North Carolina and Kentucky. Kristi piloted the state's first Trout in the Classroom to connect students' understanding of indicator species and water quality. She created Scientists and Engineers Empowering Kids, an afterschool science club that brings in STEM leaders. She partnered with an engineer to install a multifaceted outdoor classroom, and a scientist to connect her students with a NASA solar eclipse balloon launch. She coordinated events such as science fairs, Discovery Day activities, Earth Day Extravaganza, and National Engineers Week. Kristi served as a leader for school, district, state, and university projects. She has presented at local and state conferences, and has received many grants and awards. She was named the 2012 Kentucky Elementary Science Teacher of the Year. Kristi earned a B.S., magna cum laude, in Montessori education and a M.Ed. in Montessori education from Xavier University. She is a state certified elementary teacher and is certified by the American Montessori Society for ages six through nine.

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