It’s not every day that a kindergarten teacher is recognized for her “excellence in science teaching,” but that’s exactly what happened in late May when President Barack Obama welcomed Michelle Estrada ’01 ’11, and 84 other teachers from around the country, and honored them with the highest recognition K-12 math and science teachers can receive – the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

“It was really encouraging to hear President Obama himself tell us to keep doing what we’re doing,” says Estrada, who began making a greater effort to incorporate more science into the classroom three years ago.

Estrada has taught in Las Cruces schools for nine years, six of those as a kindergarten teacher at Desert Hills Elementary. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from NMSU.

“Kids have an innate interest in science,” Estrada says. “They love to collect rocks, bugs and flowers. I believe in teaching them science through relevancy, in letting them explore and then integrating a scientific theme into their reading, writing and math.”

Each year awardees are selected for outstanding teaching in the areas of mathematics or science and for their contribution in the classroom and to their profession. Next year Estrada will teach fourth grade.

“I’ve made a personal commitment to incorporate science into my classroom on a daily basis,” Estrada says. “In the end, it’s all about engaging my students and preparing them for the future. I feel I can accomplish both of these goals through science.”