President Obama honors outstanding mathematics and science teachers
President Obama today named 108 mathematics and science teachers as recipients of the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. This year's awardees represent all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Territories and the Department of Defense Education Activity schools. The educators will receive their awards at a Washington, D.C., event later this summer.
The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is awarded annually to outstanding K-12 science and mathematics teachers from across the country. The winners are selected by a panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians and educators following an initial selection process done at the state level. Each year the award alternates between teachers teaching kindergarten through 6th grade and those teaching 7th through 12th grades. The awardees named today teach 7th through 12th grade.
Winners of this Presidential honor receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation to be used at their discretion. They also are invited to Washington, D.C., for an awards ceremony, as well educational and celebratory events, and visits with members of the Administration.
"These teachers are shaping America's success through their passion for math and science," President Obama said. "Their leadership and commitment empower our children to think critically and creatively about science, technology, engineering, and math. The work these teachers are doing in our classrooms today will help ensure that America stays on the cutting edge tomorrow."
President Obama is strengthening education in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields in order to fully harness the promise the nation's students. Investing in exemplary teachers like these awardees is vital to inspiring the next generation of explorers and innovators. That's why President Obama launched the "Educate to Innovate" campaign, which has garnered more than $1 billion in financial and in-kind support for STEM programs.
It is also why the President has called for preparing 100,000 excellent science and mathematics teachers over the next decade, leading to the creation of "100kin10," a coalition of leading corporations, philanthropies, universities, service organizations, and others working to train and retain STEM teachers across the nation. In addition, the President's proposed STEM Master Teacher Corps aims to leverage the expertise of some of the nation's best and brightest teachers in science and mathematics to elevate the teaching of these subjects nationwide.
The recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching are listed below, by state.
More information about these extraordinary teachers is on the program website.
AlabamaMarla Hines, Vestavia Hills High SchoolSarah Lowman, Tanner High School
AlaskaTasha Barnes, Wendler Middle SchoolRussell Walker, Romig Middle School
ArizonaShannon Mann, Osborn Middle SchoolMarni Landry, Paradise Valley High School
ArkansasBrian Leonard, Lake Hamilton High SchoolAmanda Jones, Poyen High School
CaliforniaMarianne Chowning-Dray, Eastside College Preparatory SchoolScott Holloway, Westlake High School
ColoradoKirstin Oseth, Cheyenne Mountain Junior High SchoolMark Paricio, Smoky Hill High School
ConnecticutJacqueline Corricelli, Conard High SchoolJoshua Steffenson, Glastonbury High School
DelawareKristin Carmen, Sussex Technical High SchoolChristopher Havrilla, Woodbridge High School
District of ColumbiaAris Pangilinan, Benjamin Banneker Academic High SchoolFlorentia Spires, The Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science
Department of Defense Education ActivityRyan Goodfellow, Vilseck American High SchoolJennifer Wilson, Andersen Middle School
FloridaRobin O'Brien, Seminole Ridge Community High SchoolCarlos Montero, Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School
GeorgiaValerie Jones, Ron Clark AcademyPauline Henry, Luke Garrett Middle School
HawaiiAmy Yonashiro, 'Iolani SchoolErin Flynn, Sacred Hearts Academy
IdahoRamey Uriarte, Heritage Middle SchoolMelyssa Ferro, Syringa Middle School
IllinoisDarshan Jain, Adlai E. Stevenson High SchoolRebecca Vieyra, Cary-Grove High School
IndianaMelissa Colonis, Lafayette Tecumseh Junior High SchoolLiviu Haiducu, Avon Advanced Learning Center
IowaAllysen Lovstuen, Decorah High SchoolBrian Reece, Central Academy
KansasPatrick Flynn, Olathe East High SchoolJeremi Wonch, Indian Trail Middle School
KentuckyRobyn Morris, East Oldham Middle SchoolAndrew Kemp, Louisville Male High School
LouisianaLerri Cockrell, David Thibodaux STEM Magnet AcademyMichael Simoneaux, Dutchtown High School
MaineWilliam O'Brien, Camden Hills Regional High SchoolLisa McLellan, Windham High School
MarylandJulie Harp, Easton High SchoolJames Schafer, Montgomery Blair High School
MassachusettsSuzanne Kubik, Middleboro High SchoolSusannah Cowden, Roxbury Preparatory Charter School
MichiganLuke Wilcox, East Kentwood High SchoolWalter Erhardt, Battle Creek Area Mathematics and Science Center
MinnesotaLeif Carlson, Jefferson Community SchoolPeter Bohacek, Henry Sibley High School
MississippiJenny Simmons, Saltillo High SchoolBetsy Sullivan, Madison Central High School
MissouriRuth Knop, Parkway West Senior High SchoolKathleen Dwyer, Maplewood Richmond Heights High School
MontanaDaniel Bartsch, Billings Senior High SchoolDavid McDonald, Sidney High School
NebraskaShelby Aaberg, Scottsbluff High SchoolAngela Bergman, Westside High School
NevadaCarrie Hair, Darrell C. Swope Middle School - Gifted and Talented MagnetJan Hrindo, Incline Middle School
New HampshireStephanie Burke, West Running Brook Middle SchoolJennifer Deenik, Souhegan High School
New JerseyKathleen Carter, North Hunterdon High SchoolMichael Lawrence, West Orange High School
New MexicoMarco Martínez-Leandro, Highland High SchoolKaren Temple-Beamish, Albuquerque Academy
New YorkPatrick Honner, Brooklyn Technical High SchoolChance Nalley, Horace Mann School
North CarolinaJulie Riggins, East Forsyth High SchoolJeffrey Milbourne, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
North DakotaCynthia Nelson, Grand Forks Central High SchoolScott Johnson, Century High School
OhioKarma Vince, McCord Junior High SchoolChristopher Monsour, Columbian High School
OklahomaMark Thomas, Stillwater High SchoolSarah Vann, Owasso Eighth Grade Center
OregonMona Schraer, Grant High SchoolBradford Hill, Southridge High School
PennsylvaniaSusan Higley, Hughesville Junior/Senior High SchoolDerrick Wood, Conestoga High School
Puerto RicoEric Figueroa, University Gardens High SchoolMaria Vicenty, Central High School of Visual Arts
Rhode IslandMichelle Way DaSilva, Kickemuit Middle SchoolErin Escher, Portsmouth Middle School
South CarolinaBrooke Lance, Lakeside Middle SchoolJoseph Parker, McCants Middle School
South DakotaLindsey Brewer, Huron High SchoolJanet Wagner, Bon Homme School
TennesseeMicahel Brown, Montgomery Central High SchoolPierre Jackson, Middle College High School
TexasJessica Caviness, Coppell High SchoolMichalle McCallister, Robert G. Cole Middle and High school
U.S. TerritoriesNneka Howard-Sibilly, Charlotte Amalie High SchoolShamika Williams-Henley, Ivanna Eudora Kean High School
UtahNathan Auck, Horizonte Instruction and Training CenterAndrew Neilson, Logan High School
VermontSusan Abrams, Montpelier High SchoolStewart Williamson, Peoples Academy High School
VirginiaMelanie Pruett, Bailey Bridge Middle SchoolAnne Moore, Robious Middle School
WashingtonMichael Conklin, University High SchoolGretel von Bargen, Skyline High School
West VirginiaPete Karpyk, Weir High SchoolEric Kincaid, Morgantown High School
WisconsinCorey Andreasen, North High SchoolScott Hertting, Neenah High School
WyomingKim Parfitt, Cheyenne Central High SchoolThomas Smith, Dean Morgan Junior High School
Provided by National Science Foundation