From Frozen Ice to Teacher of the Year

Albuquerque, NM – If you had asked Megan Edwards five years ago if she thought she would win the Teacher of the Year award the answer would be, No.  Growing up as a competitive figure skater, she only had aspirations of being in the skating world the rest of her life.  Thankfully, her fourth grade students at 7 Bar Elementary made her realize that life had a plan of its own.

In 2008, Megan experienced life-threatening blood clots that forced her to reevaluate her life.  She decided that teaching off the ice was a passion for her as well as coaching on the ice.  She received her teachers license from Central New Mexico Community College and began teaching right away.  Fellow teacher, Kelly-Renae Huber, told us that she “always knew Megan would be a fantastic teacher…Megan excels at connecting with children at every age.”  Student Paige Mascarenas agreed, adding, “Ms. Edwards listens to me and teaches in a way that helps me understand the subject”.  Jennifer O’bama, parent at 7 Bar Elementary, finished by saying “my son comes home every night with a new story from Ms. Edwards’ class.  She makes him believe in his abilities and pushes him to be his very best.  We are blessed to have Ms. Edwards in our son’s life.”

What makes Ms. Edwards’ class so unique?  It is her ability to use the community to help make her class out of the ordinary.  She spent her undergraduate education researching grants offered by New Mexico’s non-profit organizations that improve teachers in the classroom.  Her first grant was from the PNM Foundation, where she received $3,000 to teach Growing Plants and Minds; a hands on gardening class.  She also received a touch screen projector from Intel for students to learn math and science in an interactive way.  Principal from 7 Bar Elementary, Darcy Candelaria, says she “has never seen students so excited to learn.  Since Megan Edwards started, her students’ test grades have improved over 40 percent.”