High school science educator Linda Rost named Montana’s 2020 Teacher of the Year.
All over our country, there are so many talented educators who have been honored for the work they do in the classroom. Among them is Linda Rost, a high school science teacher from Montana. She was recognized as the 2020 Montana Teacher of the Year. She has also been named one of four finalists for the 2020 National Teacher of the Year award. In addition, Linda has garnered the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium Teacher Award three times, the Continental Cares grant two times, and the 2016 National Vernier Engineering Contest.
Linda teaches at Baker High School in Baker, Montana. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Linda serves as the Chairperson of the Baker Public Schools Professional Development Committee. She established the committee in 2018 to focus on STEM and Indian Education for All (IEFA) K-12 collaborations and grant projects. IEFA encourages all Montanans to learn about American Indian heritage in a culturally respectful way. Her career as a professional educator has spanned 12 years.
Currently, Linda is working toward her doctorate in curriculum and instruction at Texas Tech University. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in 2006 from New Mexico State University. She earned two Master’s degrees from Montana State University at Bozeman. The first is in Instruction & Curriculum (2010) and the second is in Science Education (2018).
“Teaching is my life’s passion, so this award is incredibly meaningful,” remarked Linda. “I was raised by passionate educators who instilled in me an insatiable hunger for learning, and I love infecting my students with that same passion,” she continued. “Upon completion, I plan to teach pre-service teachers in undergraduate programs to help mitigate our current rural teacher shortage in Montana. I also am hoping to serve a greater role in some of the statewide, STEM professional-development grant programs as a researcher and grant writer,” she concluded.
The highly prestigious National Teacher of the Year award is given annually by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) to identify exceptional teachers nationwide, celebrate their effective work in and outside of the classroom, amplify their voices and empower them to take part in policy discussions at the state and national levels.