From Rockville High School to the End of the Earth!

As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, MCPS is highlighting Krista McKim’s recent achievement as she prepares to go to Antarctica this fall. 

McKim, a National Board Certified English and journalism teacher at Rockville High School, has been selected as a 2025 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow. This distinguished fellowship, a collaboration between Lindblad Expeditions and the National Geographic Society, recognizes educators committed to fostering the next generation of planetary stewards.

McKim is one of only 35 educators from the U.S. and Canada chosen for this honor. 

As part of this achievement, McKim will participate in an expedition to Antarctica from Nov. 17-28. This immersive, field-based experience will enhance her geographic knowledge and provide valuable insights to bring back to her classroom and professional network. Fellows use their experience to transform how they teach students, engage colleagues and bring new geographic awareness into their learning environments and communities. They also commit two years to support National Geographic’s education initiatives and may be asked to conduct webinars, co-design resources and serve as mentors to other educators. 

A strong advocate for project-based learning, McKim empowers her students to develop their written and visual storytelling skills to advocate for themselves and their communities. McKim also holds the titles of Master Oratory Fellow from Ford’s Theatre and Master Journalism Educator from the Journalism Education Association.