Elementary school Teacher Librarian and Media Specialist Staci Balice of New York City has garnered a prestigious 2024 grand prize FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence.  Photo credit: FLAG

Kudos to our nation’s Teacher Librarians/Media Specialists—specifically, Staci Balice of PS 58 Space Shuttle Columbia Public School in Staten Island, New York City. She has garnered a prestigious 2024 grand prize FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence from the FLAG Foundation for Excellence and Education.

In a career that spans more than 24 years, Staci has been working at PS 58 since the school first opened in 2003. In her library, Staci incorporates STREAM (Science, Technology, Robotics, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) curriculum into her instructional program. In addition to reading print books, her students create related digital media projects to strengthen their digital literacy.

Staci has worked tireless to advance digital literacy on her campus. To do this, she has established partnerships with high-profile companies such as LEGO Education, with the goal of incorporating hands-on, playful learning centers using standards-aligned lessons employing science, engineering, and technology.

In addition, Staci founded a chapter of Girls Who Code on her campus. The purpose of the club is to help increase the participation of girls in STEM activities. Within two years, the 20 girls who joined the chapter earned a first place trophy as the only all-girl team at the Battle of the Boroughs Minecraft Challenge.

The FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence recognizes and celebrates extraordinary public school teachers who inspire learning through creativity, passion, and commitment. As a grand prize winner, Staci received a $25,000 cash prize, and her school received $10,000.

Staci is already making plans for how to best spend her cash prize. “In life, there are many chances to help your community,” she asserts, “and this award will really make it accessible for all of our students to have all the streaming and technology that they need.”