November 7, 2023
LANCASTER, Texas -- Lancaster ISD is proud to announce that Amber Chalmers, a fifth-grade science teacher at Houston Elementary, has been named Outstanding Elementary Teacher of the Year by the Science Teachers Association of Texas (STAT). The Science Teacher of the Year Awards recognize excellence in science teaching in Texas schools, according to the organization.
Chalmers, a Lancaster alumni, says she’s surprised and honored to receive such a distinguished award.
“I was shocked when the organization told me I was chosen as the winner,” said Chalmers. “There were so many talented and qualified teachers in the running. I am truly honored that my work and passion for science stands out among Texas educators.”
Ms. Chalmers has always been passionate about science and has made it a priority to instill that passion in her students. She believes science is not just a subject but a way of thinking and exploring the world around us. She encourages students to think of science beyond just the end-of-year exams and to find creative ways to approach science.
As part of the nomination and application process for the award, Chalmers had to write essays describing her strategies for helping students understand scientific concepts, how she helps science overall, and specific techniques she uses in her classroom. One of Ms. Chalmers's innovative teaching methods involves hands-on experiments and projects. She believes that students learn best when actively engaged in the learning process, and she has developed projects that allow her students to explore scientific concepts in a fun and interactive way.
Chalmers says she always aims to ensure that science isn’t boring to the students.
“Learning science now is vastly different than when I was a student many years ago,” reflected Chalmers. “I could never get into it as a kid, so now I make it a mission for my students to find joy in science. They love doing hands-on experiments, but I take it further and engage the students in discussion following each experiment or lab. The discussions are vital because they allow the students to dive deeper into why something happened and then make connections to real-world situations outside of the classroom.”
Chalmers says the students absorb the concept even more following the discussion because they all bring different perspectives and experiences.
Chalmers's dedication to science education has not gone unnoticed. Her colleagues have praised her enthusiasm and ability to inspire a love of science in her students. "Ms. Chalmers has an amazing ability to make science come alive for her students," said Faith Milika, Lancaster ISD Elementary Science, STEAM Enrichment, and Gifted and Talented Coordinator. "She truly deserves this recognition."
Chalmers credits her time in a NASA Pre-Service Teacher Institute while attending Prairie View A&M University for inspiring her curiosity for science. The program provided hands-on opportunities for participants to expand their knowledge and skills in teaching science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects. They also had to complete projects and practice writing lesson plans. Chalmers says participating in the NASA program twice helped solidify her decision to work on incorporating innovative techniques into her lessons.
When she’s not in the classroom, Chalmers also serves as a mentor to other elementary science teachers across the district. She says she aims to be available and open to the other teachers and guide them through any challenges or obstacles they may face. Chalmers says she loves teaching and is hoping to continue to expand and grow within Lancaster ISD.
“It’s a great feeling to see the students grow and learn over the school year. I’m not saying I’m a miracle worker, but I know the students can’t help but fall in love with science because I’m so passionate about it,” Chalmers said with a chuckle.
Lancaster ISD recognized Chalmers during the October school board meeting. The elementary science department threw a surprise party for Chalmers on November 7 to celebrate her achievement and shower her with congratulations, kind words, and praise. Later this month, she will travel to the STAT conference in Houston, where she will formally receive her Outstanding Elementary Science Teacher of the Year award from the organization.
