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Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) is the nation's highest commendation for K-12 math and science teachers. It recognizes a combination of sustained and exemplary work both in, and outside of, the classroom. Each award includes a grant of $7,500 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to the recipient's school. Winners use the money at their discretion to promote math and science education. Awardees also receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., during which each receives a recognition certificate signed by the President. Awardees also attend seminars and engage in professional discussions with their peers and with national legislators and education policymakers. Each awardee also receives a selection of gifts from private-sector contributors to the program.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. What are the PAEMST selection criteria?

A. The program is open to practicing public-, private- and parochial-school teachers with a minimum of five years of experience. Candidates are then chosen on the basis of their teaching performance, their background and their experience. This includes an evaluation of their formal education and continuing educational experience as well as professional and other activities related to their teaching. Applicants are asked to demonstrate how their teaching enables students to learn important math and science processes and concepts. They must also provide letters of support for their application from colleagues; current or former students; parents of current or former students; or their supervisors.

Q. How are recipients selected?

A. Awardees are selected from those eligible teachers who have completed an application, obtained from NSF or from the science or math coordinator at their state education department. Applicants provide documentation of their background and evidence of professional success to state selection committees of their peers. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) oversees state selection procedures in math, the Council of State Science Supervisors (CSSS) those in science.

The committees choose six math teachers (three elementary, three secondary) and six science teachers (three elementary, three secondary). These 12 state-level finalists are recognized by the national program and in their individual states or political jurisdictions. All 12 of these teachers are candidates for the presidential award. One science and one math teacher at each level are recommended as presidential awardees by national selection committees of distinguished scientists, mathematicians and educators. The White House chooses the presidential awardees and makes the official announcement of the winners.

Q. What are the citizenship requirements for nominees?

A. Applicants must be U.S. citizens who teach in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Department of Defense Dependent Schools, or the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas or the Virgin Islands.

Q. When was PAEMST established?

A. Former President Ronald Reagan signed into law a measure establishing the program in 1983 (P.L. 98-377). The law was amended in 1988 to include elementary teachers (P.L. 100-570). The teacher enhancement program of NSF's division of elementary, secondary, and informal education administers the program for the White House.

Q. How many recipients are honored this year?

A. There are 107 elementary and 107 secondary recipients this year, one teacher of science and one teacher of math at each level, chosen from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Department of Defense Schools, and the U.S. Territories.

See also:

• News Release, "Presidential Awards Recognize the World's Best Teaching," 6/11/97.
• News Release, "White House Recognizes Outstanding Science and Mathematics Teachers," 4/16/97
• Statement by NSF Director Neal Lane in April 1997.

For more information, contact: Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, Directorate for Education and Human Resources, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Va. 22230, (703) 306-0422. On the World Wide Web at http://www.ehr.nsf.gov/EHR/ESIE/index.html

 
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