Did You Nominate This Teacher?

On January 6, 2010, President Obama met the small group of teachers who were awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. These teachers were K-6 teachers recognized first at the state level and later at the national level based on an extensive application process evaluated by prominent mathematicians, scientists, mathematics/science educators, and past awardees. They were selected as those teachers who provide a high quality math and science experience for their students.

This teaching award began in 1983 when the US Congress created the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching. Each year, the president is authorized to provide as many as 108 teaching awards to eligible candidates for the highest national recognition for science and math teachers.


These K-6 teachers, pictured with President Barack Obama received the latest PAEMST Awards. Following that is a list of their names and the locations where they teach.

President Barack Obama poses with Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching winners in the State Dining Room of the White House on Jan. 6, 2010.

Credit: Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy

2008 PAEMST Awardee Cohort
Vickie Ahlstrom (Pleasant Grove, Utah)
Charles Bertsch (Polson, Mont.)
Mary Black (Dubuque, Iowa)
Georgia Boatman (Kennewick, Wash.)
Michele Brees (Burien, Wash.)
Stacie Broden (Waterbury, Conn.)
Sharon Brown (Severna Park, Md.)
James Brown (Stillwater, N.Y.)
Jane Callery (Ashford, Conn.)
Susan Carter (Saint Charles, Mo.)
Cary Cermak Rudolf (Roseburg, Ore.)
Melissa Collins (Memphis, Tenn.)
Kathleen Conroy (Charlotte, N.C.)
Zan Coonce (Reno, Nev.)
JoAnne Deshon (Newark, Del.)
Jeri Doane (Edmond, Okla.)
Kari Dresow (Sedalia, Ky.)
Keri Dowdy (Kimball, Minn.)
Christa Duthie Fox (Essex Junction, Vt.)
Candy Ellard (Austin, Texas)
Amy Ellis (Starkville, Miss.)
Gay Erb (Boise, Idaho)
Kathryn Eyolfson (Aurora, Colo.)
Diana Fesmire (Alamogordo, N.M.)
Erin Flynn (East Walpole, Mass.)
Karen Fredricks (Newark, Del.)
Christi Fricks (Pendleton, S.C.)
Sharon Hall (Maineville, Ohio)
Lana Hansen (Littleton, Colo.)
Angela Hansen Cook (Fargo, N.D.)
Michelle Harris (Anita, Iowa)
Sherry Helus (Wamego, Kan.)
Kathleen Hill (Kalispell, Mont.)
Rebecca Holden (Harrison, Tenn.)
Laura Hulsebus (Chugiak, Alaska)
David Ireland (Hermosa, S.D.)
Dana Islas (Tucson, Ariz.)
Haley James (Madison, Ala.)
Kristen Jarboe (Frankfort, Ky.)
Linda Kehr (Klamath Falls, Ore.)
Sandra Kelish (Stafford, Va.)
Barbara Kelley (Grapevine, Texas)
Rebecca Kitts (Pierre, S.D.)
Amy Knerr (Carmel, Ind.)
Susan Kunze (Bishop, Calif.)
Anne Magaha (Hatboro, Pa.)
Mary Meggett (Charleston, S.C.)
Teresa Minogue (Webster, N.H.)
Patricia Morgan (Norman, Okla.)
Kimberly Mueller (Cinnaminson, N.J.)
Susan Naylor (Parkersburg, W.Va.)
Karen Nesbit (Franklin, Wis.)
Cathleen Newton (West Hartford, Vt.)
Jennifer Norford (Charlotte Amalie, V.I.)
Monica Norwood (Little Rock, Ark.)
Suzanne O'Brien (Washington Township, Mich.)
Halley Page (Athens, Ga.)
Sally Pellegrin (Avon Lake, Ohio)
Carrie Persing (Chester, Va.)
Jon Phillips (Grand Blanc, Mich.)
Suzanne Pilon (Hilton, N.Y.)
Sara Rebecca Pittard (Ormond Beach, Fla.)
Susan Poage (Berkeley Heights, N.J.)
Kendra Pullen (Shreveport, La.)
Amy Radden (Casper, Wyo.)
Charles Reynes (Castro Valley, Calif.)
Debra Reynolds (Denham Springs, La.)
Kamilla Riek (Saint Louis, Mo.)
Jennifer Rising (Lake Forest, Ill.)
Natalie Robinson (Pleasant Grove, Utah)
Patia Rountree (Statesboro, Ga.)
Regina Scott (Greenwood, Ind.)
Deborah Seaver (Milford, Mass.)
Wendy Shelden (Cocoa, Fla.)
Cheryl Silcox (Anchorage, Alaska)
Jeanette Simmons (Pontotoc, Miss.)
Kimberly Spencer (Yarmouth, Maine)
Barbara Stoflet (Minnetonka, Minn.)
Melinda Storey (Birmingham, Ala.)
DeAnn Swofford (Olathe, Kan.)
Liane Tanigawa (Waipahu, Hawaii)
Pamela Thompson (Industry, Maine)
Loreen Whalen McMains (Herman, Neb.)
Nola Wilkinson (Decatur, Ill.)
Carol Wooten (Cary, N.C.)
Seanyelle Yagi (Kailua, Hawaii)

Opportunity: Speak for the Future

As educators, our primary duty lies in always looking to and speaking for the future.....that is what a teacher does. As an educator, interested in the re-integration of science into our future learning/teaching cycle, I join groups that share my ideals. Recently, a science advocacy group, Science Debate 2008, began by encouraging us to speak up in support of science and technology.

The main focus of Science Debate 2008 was to encourage the candidates to debate the trends and issues related to Science in the United States of America. Americans have long made innovations as science and technology serves us as the engine of economic stability in our country.

Those who joined in the call to bring science and technology back into the public sphere have political leanings that are as varied as the individual snowflakes in a snowstorm, yet we are united in an important cause to promote science and technology. I hope we can encourage the regeneration of science and technology to help stabilize and improve our economy.

Since the election ended, Science Debate 2008 continued to inform us about trends and issues about science and technology in the United States of America.




Just last week, I received an email with important information that detailed the proposed Nelson-Collins cuts in the economic stimulus and tax cut bill. NSF, NOAA, USDA, and a wide variety of governmental agencies focusing on research and education had their money slashed....theoretically. Many of us responded to the invitation to write our congressional representatives in the House and Senate.

After I received the information, I wrote both of my senators. While I knew the chances of them voting for any of the plans were slim, I encouraged them to ask those would vote to NOT cut the science job and education stimulus portion of this bill. I was only one of a multitude of concerned voters who encouraged our elected officials to strongly consider the job creating abilities of NSF, NOAA and other governmental agencies that could immediately grant monies to projects that will put people to work and educate them about science and technology.

As the elections of 2008 are past, Science Debate 2008 has been inspired to continue to support the efforts of individuals like YOU and me. They have listened to our suggestions and will be

"concentrating the majority of our focus on the broad goal of continuing to 'restore science to its rightful place in three ways: championing science debates among policymakers and those running for office; combating the erosion of science and science policy in the media; and new efforts to involve young people in science policy discussions."

Yes, their work is our work. Including young people is a sure fire way to integrate science, math, engineering and technology in their complete education.

WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY! Please join me and the thousands of others in working with Science Debate 2008 to find ways to integrate science and technology into the lives of our students and communities.

Tapestry for Learning

Over the years, many teachers have dreamed of implementing their ideas within their classroom, grade or school. These teachers often need money for materials, technology and other resources, so they search for assistance. Many have received Toyota Tapestry Grants for Science Teachers. Remember, who is a Science Teacher?

The Toyota Tapestry Grant is the largest of its kind in the United States, and they award mini-grants of $2,000 and larger grants of $10,000. to K-12 Science Teachers in the United States.

The three categories in which grants will be awarded are:

1. Environmental Science Education
2. Physical Science Applications
3. Integrating Literacy & Science

To find out more about applying for the Toyota Tapestry Grant, visit the Toyota Tapestry Program website. These applications will be completed online, and the deadline for submission is 11:59PM, Eastern Standard Time, Wednesday, January 21, 2009. Let's hop to it. Don't delay!