MV Educator Receives Honors

In recognition of commitment to geographic education, Michael Presser, a teacher at Rancho Verde High School in Moreno Valley was selected as one of the 2015 Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellows. Every year, K-12 educators are encouraged to apply for this professional development opportunity which allows them to bring immersive geographic learning experiences back to their classrooms and communities. Presser is one of 35 highly-respected educators from the United States and Canada to receive this honor. Later this year, Presser will embark on a 10-day Lindblad voyage aboard the National Geographic Endeavor to the Galapagos Islands for a one-of-a-kind field experience, accompanied by Lindblad-National Geographic expedition experts. The expedition will provide Presser with new and exciting knowledge to bring back to Rancho Verde High School and integrate into lesson plans. Before the voyages, Presser will travel to National Geographic Society’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., to participate in hands-on workshops covering photography and outreach planning, and will have the opportunity to meet Lindblad Expeditions’ naturalists and network with previous years’ Fellows. This year marks the ninth year of the Grosvenor Teacher Fellow Program, established to honor former National Geographic Society Chairman Gilbert M. Grosvenor’s lifetime commitment to geographic education. The program began with two Fellows in 2007 and has grown each year. The expeditions were donated in perpetuity to the National Geographic Society by Sven-OlofLindblad and Lindblad Expeditions to mark Grosvenor’s 75th birthday in 2006 and to honor his service to enhancing and improving geographic education across the United States. Additional support for the 2015 program is provided by Google and private funders.