Meadows Elementary teacher Christopher Miko was one of seven teachers in the nation last month to earn the Educator Achievement Award from the National American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Foundation.
Fifth grade science teacher Miko was one of two California teachers who received the award, which is given out every two years to K-12 educators who demonstrate exemplary efforts in exciting students about math, science and technical subjects.
“Christopher Miko ignites a passion for learning science in his students that extends well beyond the classroom,” said Manhattan Beach Unified School District Superintendent Michael Matthews. “He is that special educator who ignites a spark of interest, constantly challenging students to question, investigate and evaluate the world around them.”
During his nearly four years at Meadows, Miko has started a popular after-school science club and summer camp, fostered new technologies into classrooms and started a Ballona Wetlands habitat restoration program run by his students. In 2009, he was one of 300 teachers in the world invited to attend a week-long seminar at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s prestigious space camp. Earlier this year, Miko was one of 40 teachers nationwide who received a NASA fellowship for a year-long program intended to develop highly qualified teachers in STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics — subjects.
Miko’s award includes a trip for two to Washington, D.C., where he will be honored at the AIAA Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala in May.
“He’s totally into the science factor,” said Katherine Pasterczyk, one of Miko’s fifth graders last year. “Because he’s really into it, it makes me want to be into it too.” ER
