Linda Rost is the 2020 Montana Teacher of the Year and a Top 4 Finalist for National Teacher of the Year. She teaches biology, anatomy and physiology, AP biology, chemistry, and science research at Baker High School in Baker, MT and introductory science courses for Miles Community College. She has successfully facilitated an award-winning science research program and in her sixteen-year career, twenty-four of her students have competed at national or international science competitions. One student placed 1st at the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium in 2012 and another placed 3rd in 2019. Additionally, one placed 3rd at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, and four have placed 4th. Rost obtained a B.S. from New Mexico State University, an M.Ed. and an M.S. from Montana State University, and a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction - STEM from Texas Tech University. She serves as a teacher leader for the NIH PHAGES SEPA grant. She is a three-time winner of the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium Teacher Award, a four-time Continental Cares grant recipient and the 2016 National Vernier Engineering Contest winner. In 2023, she was given the NEA Foundation Excellence in Teaching Award for Montana, the Teresa Veltkamp Advocacy Award for Excellence in Indian Education by the Montana OPI, and a 2023 Finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching. She lives on a cattle and poultry ranch in Baker, MT with her husband and three children.