Cindy Lee, a science teacher for the past 26 years at Snell Middle School in Bayard, New Mexico, has been named one of four 2019 recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching from New Mexico.
She teaches seventh- and eighth-grade Life Science, Physical Science and Science Tech.
Her motto is “Science is a verb!” Her students are engaged in science learning as soon as they enter her classroom. She has acquired numerous grants to fund innovative projects and activities in her classroom, including having students apply for "science jobs" and work in a different area of science each day. Lee also coaches Science Olympiad and is a Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) advisor with many successful student teams.
Lee has presented at district, state, and national conferences and conducted workshops for the Golden Apple Foundation of New Mexico. She has served on committees to evaluate state standards, review instructional materials, and implementation of new standards for science education. She is a member of the New Mexico Science Teachers Association and the Science Leadership Team for her school district.
She said the process for the award is a long one. She was named a finalist in 2017 and "still had a lot of documents and other things to do and submit."
According to the bio on www.paemst website, she said: "I am humbled and full of gratitude to be chosen to receive the Presidential Award. It is an honor not only for myself, but for my family, school and community. I give thanks to my family for their support and to administrators for trusting me with autonomy in my classroom. Most of all, I thank my Heavenly Father for the opportunity to teach. This award validates my belief in the importance of science education, and it is my hope to always hold strong to the standards set forth by the award."
Awards are separated by K-6 and 7-12 grades. This year, the two groups of awardees will be combined in one ceremony, which will take place on Thursday, October 17, 2019, in Washington, D.C.
The other three recipients from New Mexico are Krystal Irby of nex+Gen Academy in Albuquerque in the 7-12 group, and, for the K-6 awards, Erin Mayer of Janet Kahn School of Integrated Arts in Albuquerque and Eric Schultz of Sixth Grade Academy in Santa Fe.
In a phone call between the Beat and Lee, she said she didn't start out to be a teacher. She planned to be a scientist and began that way. However, life circumstances led her to become a teacher. "And now I do the science I wanted to do with the kids."
"It's an honor to represent Cobre Consolidated School District," Lee said. "I appreciate the students I've had and the ones I have now. I am now teaching the second generation of students, the children of ones I taught years ago."
She also explained as part of her application, she had to submit an exactly 45-minute unedited video of her in the classroom. "I couldn't have done it without Mike Barragree and his video skills."
During her career, Lee has been selected as teacher of the year for Snell Middle School, Outstanding MESA Advisor for New Mexico, and has received the Golden Apple Award.
She earned a B.A. in botany and M.A.T. in secondary education from Western New Mexico University. She has an instructional leadership certification with a K-12 endorsement in science.
Lee told the Beat she has always believed in "Bloom Where You Are Planted." With her background and her career, she has certainly done so to her and her students' benefit.