When I think of what the Presidential Award means to me, honor comes to mind. It is an honor to be nominated and considered for the award. It honors the students who have walked through my door and challenged me to give my best every day. It honors the military families, my colleagues and administrators who encourage me to learn and try new ideas. It honors my family’s countless hours of trying new ideas on them before I bring them into the classroom. Honor describes this award.

Michalle McCallister San Antonio, TX | 7-12, Science, 2013

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

An educator for 10 years, Michalle McCallister has spent the last four years teaching eighth grade science at Robert G. Cole Middle and High School in the Fort Sam Houston Independent School District. She is also head coach of the high school girls’ varsity soccer and softball teams. Leadership is key to her success at the campus and district level. She is an eighth grade team leader, a member of the Lead4Ward data cohort and the campus design team. She has facilitated district breakout sessions on project based learning and data tracking for students. This summer, she will attend the PBL World Project Based Learning Leadership and Coaching Academies in Napa, CA. Michalle is a science adjunct for Region 20 Education Service Center, presenting at state science academies, writing content courses for teachers and presenting on student data tracking. She was a science facilitator for North East Independent School District where she provided support for the science program, developed curriculum, and worked on a data-tracking program for her assigned campus. Michalle has a B.S. in renewable natural resources from the University of Arizona and attended Texas State University, receiving a Master’s of applied geography in environmental resource geography. During this time, she took post-graduate classes in education and is certified to teach science in fourth through eighth grade.

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