Teacher Astral Battiste has been selected the 2024 Teacher of the Year for the US Virgin Islands. Photo credit: The Virgin Islands Consortium
I am always excited to share the news that an outstanding educator has been honored for their work with young people. Today, I share the news that elementary school teacher Astral Battiste has been selected the 2024 Teacher of the Year for the US Virgin Islands.
Astral teaches kindergartners at the Pearl B. Larsen Elementary School in the Saint Croix District in the US Virgin Islands. She instructs students in the subjects of reading, language arts, math, social studies and science.
In addition, Astral leads several committees at her school site, coaches VI History Quiz Bowl, helps plans Hispanic Heritage Month, and organizes the school’s Christmas programs. And as if all that were not enough, she has led the Girl Scouts and participates in after school programs to benefit students.
It seems that Astral was meant to be an educator. As a teenager, she found herself mentoring children at 4H summer camps and volunteering at St. Croix Central High School. But she officially launched her career in education when she accepted a position as an aide at St. Mary’s Catholic School. Her career as an educator spans 20 years.
A background in reading instruction led her to be an advocate for literacy. By implementing a weekly parent class at her school, her platform is to promote literacy in early childhood education. Her goal focuses on empowering parents and students with the tools necessary to increase student reading achievement and success.
The recognition she earned from the US Virgin Islands Department of Education is not the only honor Astral has received. She was named the 2022-2023 Pearl B. Larsen Teacher of the Year, and she was also recognized as the 2022-2023 Saint Croix District Teacher of the Year.
Astral earned her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education with a minor in Social Sciences in 2006, and she earned her Master’s degree in Education with a Concentration in Reading Instruction in 2013, both from the University of the Virgin Islands.
Congratulations, Astral!
