Alumna among teachers honored with U.S. Presidential Award

Chantel Astler

Flagstone Elementary Teacher Chantel Astler accepted the Presidential Award for Excellence on Wednesday, May 18. She is one of only two Colorado teachers selected for the prestigious honor.

Astler, who earned her master's degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Colorado Denver, has been an elementary educator for 14 years and has spent the past five years as the science teacher at Flagstone Elementary in Douglas County School District. She also has taught Science Methods for Elementary Teachers at Adams State College.

The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is awarded annually to outstanding K-12 science and mathematics teachers from across the country. This year's 85 elementary education winners were selected by a panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians and educators following an initial selection process done at the state level.

Winners of the honor receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation to be used at their discretion. They also receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for an awards ceremony and several days of educational and celebratory events, including visits with members of Congress and the Administration.