Sandy Hook Elementary School Library Media Specialist Katie Mauro has been keeping a secret for the last year and she is finally able to share it.

Mauro is one of two Connecticut science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers among a group of 50 teachers selected from the United States and Canada to be honored by the National Geographic Society and Lindblad Expeditions with the Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship, according to a release about the news. The Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship makes it possible for the chosen educators to embark on a life-changing voyage to one of the many remote and extraordinary environments the Lindblad fleet explores around the world. Furahi Achebe of New Haven was also honored with the fellowship.

All of the educators, including Mauro, learned they earned the honor last year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, everything was put on hold, including sharing the news.

Now, although it is still uncertain when the expedition will happen, the horizon is looking bright, and Mauro is excited to share what she will experience, once travel is possible again, with her fellow educators and students.

The application process for the Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship is competitive, and this was the second time Mauro applied. The application included questions to answer with short responses — like what type of educators the applicants think they are. Mauro said she thinks many people are unaware that this type of fellowship exists, and she wants other educators to know these types of experiences are a possibility.

According to the release, given the ongoing pandemic and travel restrictions, the field-based experience is currently on hold. However, once conditions allow, they will embark on a Lindblad Expeditions’ voyage to experience natural wonders alongside an expedition team, including marine biologists, geologists, historians, scientists, undersea specialists, and National Geographic photographers.

Mauro shared that simply being awarded the fellowship has been a great networking opportunity, and, once seeing others in gatherings is possible, there will be many more opportunities. Mauro, Achebe, and their fellow chosen educators have many things to anticipate.

“There are many aspects of our world that you can’t think about until you are exposed to the concepts,” said Achebe in the release. “As a life-long city dweller I have a very limited experience with nature. Many of my students share the same challenge. It is my hope that by sharing first-hand information, photographs, and videos of other ecosystems and the life forms therein, I can inspire my students and the members of my youth group to learn more about the natural world. It is my ultimate goal to inspire my students to become explorers.”

Mauro was also selected as a 2020 state finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, and Achebe was also selected as a 2017 PBS Digital Innovator Representing CT and as a 2018 Joules Engineering Fellow, according to the release.

To answer the question from the fellowship application, what kind of educator is Mauro?

“I am committed to empowering the next generation of changemakers,” Mauro said in the release. “When we foster their love for science and encourage them to question the human and natural world, we empower our students with the explorer mindset they need to make our world a better place.”

In a recent phone interview, Mauro said that as an educator she likes to share what is out there, what is possible, and “what they are capable of” with her students. She likes to merge topics and plan teaching concepts in advance, like incorporating technology like stop-motion into lessons or pulling up images of places when speaking about a region. She tries to incorporate as much knowledge as possible in her lessons.

“I just want these kids to understand the opportunities they have and their ability to make a change,” Mauro said.

Mauro said she is hoping to absorb as much as she can from the expedition. Some expeditions have been to the most remote places on the planet, and Mauro is planning to bring it all back with her to share with students.