2018 PAEMST Elementary Science Awardee

Elizabeth Henderson

Elementary Science Presidential Award Recipient

"Receiving the Presidential Award is a recognition of the passion I have for education and for all my students to provide them with an exceptional learning environment that helps them realize their inherent potential to create and accomplish marvelous things. This award is also a symbol of the incredible support and guidance I have had from my family, colleagues, students, and the great teachers I have had in my life. Without them, this incredible recognition would not be possible."

As lead science teacher, Elizabeth has been the Science/Engineering Fair Coordinator since 2014. She presented at California Educators of the Deaf and at Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teaching and Teachers. In addition, she is featured in the article “Addressing the Common Core State Standards with the Deaf." Deaf herself, she is passionate about high quality instruction in American Sign Language/English.

Elizabeth recently coauthored “The Vibrating Universe: Astronomy for the Deaf” in the Journal of Science Education and Technology. Currently, she collaborates with University of California, Los Angeles scholars, providing curriculum feedback. Lastly, she develops student friendly NGSS posters for the deaf, and participates on the “Going Green” committee in effort to make CSDR a fully “green” campus.

She holds a B.A. and M.A., both summa cum laude, in deaf education from California State University Fresno (CSUF), as well as her Multiple Subject and Deaf Educational Specialist credentials. She is bestowed with the CSUF Presidential scholarship, the Top Dog Undergraduate and Graduate awards, and CSUF Dean’s Medal finalist.