The Presidential Award is an honor I share with my colleagues, students, and family who have inspired my passion for science education. Students today are going to be the future problem solvers of many of the current issues we face on our planet. My goal is to help them to think outside the box and explore possible solutions. This award is an amazing professional opportunity to continue learning as an educator to support my students and colleagues.

Angela Salo Tacoma, WA | K-6, Science, 2018

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

Angela "Angie" Salo has been an educator for 22 years, and has spent the last five years at DeLong Elementary teaching fifth grade for Tacoma Public Schools. Previously, she taught at McKinley Elementary for 14 years and at Blix Elementary for three years. Angie's passion for science in the classroom includes bringing in local experts from the field and taking students out into the field. Each year, she has organized a three-day outdoor environmental education camp. This spring, her students talked via Skype to fifth graders in Brazil to discuss climate change issues and learned to code with LEGO robotics. Beyond the classroom, Angie collaboratively planned DeLong's science, technology, engineering, art, and math night, and engaged in field work as a paleontologist in Montana with the University of Washington. She has also served on her district's science leadership team, attended national and local science conferences, and wrote curriculum for science summer camp. Currently, Angie is a Washington State Science Fellow, member of Washington State Teachers Association and National Science Teachers Association, and a National Geographic Certified Educator. Angie earned a B.A.E. and a M.A.E. from Pacific Lutheran University. She is a certified elementary educator with endorsements in elementary education, reading, English as a second language, and special education.

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