The Presidential Award is an affirmation and an inspiration at the same time. The award affirms that the years of hard work spent constantly refining the art of teaching science have been recognized. The inspiration is that now that I have the award, I must continue to work to empower my students and colleagues with a love of science and learning.

Anna Suggs Las Cruces, NM | K-6, Science, 2012

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

Anna Suggs has been a sixth grade teacher for 21 years. She taught at three different middle schools. For the last 15 years, she has been teaching sixth grade science at Zia Middle School. During her tenure at Zia Middle School, Anna has been instrumental in implementing and participating in multiple afterschool science and technology programs. Some of these afterschool programs include the Science, Math and Aerospace Academy; Growing Up Thinking Scientifically computer club; Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology robotics teams, and the Technology Students Association.  Anna’s interests also extend to athletics; she has been a seventh and eighth grade girls’ volleyball coach for 7 years, winning four city championships during that time. Anna’s desire to inspire young scientists has led to her participation in the NASA Remote Sensing Earth Science Teacher Program. Anna and her students have been doing research at White Sands National Monument for 5 years. This research has involved hundreds of students as well as teachers, university personnel, the local model airplane club, and parents. Anna also enjoys inspiring and training other science teachers. She has presented multiple times at summer institutes as well as science conferences. Anna has a B.S. in agricultural animal science and an M.A. in curriculum and instruction, both from New Mexico State University.

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