The Presidential Award is a celebration of my students and colleagues. They motivate me to become a better teacher and I am humbled by their support. Our collective future is promising when we help apprentice students in the problem solving and critical thinking necessary for productive citizenry. I am grateful for the opportunity to help young people explore the world around them and work toward this greater goal. I will continue to use my voice to advocate for our students and future.

Micah Lauer Meridian, ID | 7-12, Science, 2015

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

Micah Lauer has been an educator for 12 years, teaching 7th grade Life Science at Heritage Middle School for the past nine years. He also manages the school garden. Previously, he taught 8th grade Physical Science, 8th grade Wildlife Biology, and 5th grade. He has taught at neighboring Sawtooth Middle School and at Sky View Elementary School in Peoria, AZ. Serving as a thinking partner for other teachers is a passion of Micah’s. He is a teacher consultant with the Boise State Writing Project, an affiliate of the National Writing Project. Currently, he is helping lead a cohort of 20 elementary through college science teachers through a yearlong, graduate level professional development experience. He has led professional development at the building, district, and state level, worked on long-term grant projects, presented at conferences, including an international science conference, and written for publication. Another passion of Micah’s is helping students explore the natural world around them. For the past two years, he has partnered with the Biology Department at Boise State University to take his life science students to a local research site. Micah earned a B.S. in environmental science from the University of Idaho and a M.A.T. from Washington State University. He is certified in kindergarten through 8th grade elementary education.

Know a great teacher like Micah Lauer?