President Barack Obama recognized University alumnae Mary Legoria and Linda Messina Aug. 22 as recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
Legoria and Messina were recognized as Louisiana’s top science educators in primary and secondary education, respectively. Legoria is an elementary science lab teacher at Westdale Heights Academic Magnet and Messina is a high school science teacher at St. Joseph’s Academy, both in
Baton Rouge.
Legoria and Messina are among 213 teachers recognized from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Territories and the Department of Defense Education Activity schools, according to a White House news release.
The educators will be honored at a ceremony in Washington D.C. on Sept. 8 and enjoy two days of professional development training in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.
Messina said she was honored when she was named a state finalist and is still astonished by her recognition at the national level. The application process took her nearly eight months, and having the opportunity to reflect on her time as an educator was a reward itself, she said.
“Even had I not won, the great part about it was that I really got to reflect on my teaching and on ways that I could improve my teaching,” Messina said.
Messina originally directed a lab at Methodist Hospital in New Orleans, now New Orleans East Hospital, before leaving the workforce to raise her children. In her early 30s, Messina said she made a promise to God she would do something to make a difference.
She was inspired to teach after working with a special needs student named Michael at Magnolia Woods Elementary School as a member of the Junior League of Baton Rouge. Messina said she realized education could be her pathway to making a difference and began training to become an educator in her early 40s .
Aside from raising her children, she said becoming a teacher is the best thing she has ever done.
While visiting the nation’s capitol is exciting, Messina said she’s most excited about the professional development opportunities the award includes. Being able to collaborate with high school teachers from around the country and bring new skills back to her students is an incredible opportunity, she said.
Attending with Legoria, a friend and colleague from the University’s Coastal Roots program, is an added bonus.
Pam Blanchard, associate professor of science education and co-director of the University’s Coastal Roots program, said both teachers are incredibly deserving of the honor. Blanchard has worked with Legoria and Messina for a number of years and described them as leaders in their schools and the Coastal Roots program.
“These are ladies that go well beyond what’s required of them for their jobs,” Blanchard said. “They want their students to have a very meaningful relationship with science on many different levels. Coastal Roots is just one of the programs that they bring to their schools.”
Legoria and Messina are trusted confidantes and a sounding board for Coastal Roots initiatives, she said. Both Legoria and Messina, like many teachers in the program, strive to show their students that school extends beyond textbooks and science has applications in everyday life.

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Courtesy of St. Joseph's Academy

LSU alumna Linda Messina was recently awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.