Shasta Charlton, a computer science teacher for grades 10 through 12 and Robotics Club staffer at Whites Creek Comprehensive High School, has been selected among thousands of eligible teachers as a 2020 Amazon Future Engineer Teacher of the Year Award recipient.
Shasta Charlton
Charlton will receive a prize package valued at more than $50,000 for Whites Creek Comprehensive High School—which includes $25,000 for the school and an additional $25,000 in school supplies.
Charlton learned of the honor when an Amazon Future Engineer team member made the surprise announcement during a staff video conference call.
“I cannot thank Amazon enough for choosing Whites Creek High School as one of the recipients for the robotics grant,” said Charlton. “This program has sparked an excitement for engineering and technology that didn’t exist at our school. I am beyond honored to have been selected as teacher of the year. I will continue to encourage my students to explore new paths and challenge themselves to innovate and create the world’s next leading technology.”
Award recipients were chosen based on a variety of criteria, which included their commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within computer science education, a recommendation from a school administrator, and compelling, personal anecdotes about their school and students. Scholarship America reviewed applicants and selected the award recipients. Amazon awarded ten teachers from across the country with this inaugural Amazon Future Engineer Teacher of the Year Award.