GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — Former physics teacher and current West Middle School Assistant Principal Linda Flohr has been recognized by the White House for teaching in the STEM field or science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Later this spring, Flohr will receive the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the highest national honor for teachers in the STEM field.
As a recipient, Flohr will travel to Washington D.C., receive a certificate signed by then-President Joe Biden, and get a cash prize.
Flohr talked about the experiences that shaped her career.
"In 1997, I left and went to Papua New Guinea, and I was really lucky. I was not an education major, I had my degree in physics, and I wasn't sure teaching was going to be what I did, but when I worked in Papitalai on Manus Island, I really realized that teaching was, what I felt, like my calling."
From there, Flohr returned to the United States, got her master's degree in Philidelphia, where she taught for a few years. Then came to Colorado, where she continued her work at Glenwood Springs High School for 20 years.
Flohr says she is "Really grateful and humbled because anytime you get an award at a national level, which really, this is my first time to have anything like that. You put a lot of work into the application, and you do a lot of reflecting on your practice and you're always trying to be better, so, in the end for it to come to fruition is exciting."