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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