St. Mary’s Dominican High School science teacher Crissy Giacona received the Outstanding Science Teacher of the Year Award at the November 3-4 Louisiana Science Teachers Association (LSTA) conference in Baton Rouge. LSTA awards are presented to one science teacher at each level (elementary, middle, and secondary) who has demonstrated exemplary science teaching. This may include performance in the development/use of instructional materials, design/implementation of curriculum, and/or fostering school-based instructional programs in science for longer than five years. The pandemic had delayed award presentations for 2021 and 2022 recipients until the November LSTA conference.

The Outstanding Science Teacher of the Year Awards consist of a $400 cash grant to be used at the discretion of the awardee, an award plaque, and recognition in the LSTA newsletter, the LASER. At the conference, Giacona gave a presentation on, “Unleash the Thrills of Physics.” She looks forward to presenting at the National Science Teacher Association conference that will be in New Orleans next year. LSTA, an affiliate of the National Science Teachers Association, strives to maintain close ties with other state science teacher organizations in an effort to remain abreast of current issues and challenges facing science education. LSTA membership ensures that science educators have a forum for promoting science education.