Cynthia Mostoller is a social studies teacher at Alice Deal Middle School.

Ms. Cynthia Mostoller came to Deal Middle School 25 years ago and never looked back. She describes her teaching style as “structured optimism” and works to bring a sense of wonder and excitement to every lesson. When teaching United States history and geography, Ms. Mostoller uses DC’s rich history to augment her lessons; her students routinely visit the surrounding museums, archives, and universities.

Ms. Mostoller sees her career choice as an act of faith. She shares, “Some changes are seen, others unseen, but if you stay in the profession long enough, you start to hear from all of the students whose lives you’ve touched, and that faith is rewarded a hundred-fold.”

Ms. Mostoller is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Richard Ferrell Award for Outstanding History Teachers, the History Channel Award for Outstanding Work with National History Day, and the Patricia Behring Award for Teaching History.