Each year, the President of the United States recognizes outstanding kindergarten-grade 6 or grades 7-12 mathematics and science teachers by awarding the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). Awards are given to teachers in each state and four U.S. jurisdictions. The PAEMST program is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) on behalf of the White House. The 2009 PAEMST program will honor grades 7-12 mathematics and science teachers, while the 2010 awards program will focus on kindergarten-grade 6 mathematics and science teachers.
Each awardee receives a $10,000 award from NSF and gifts from a broad range of donors. Awardees and guests of the awardee are honored during events that take place in Washington, D.C., over the course of a week-long celebration. These events include an awards ceremony, celebratory receptions and banquets, and professional development programs.
The nomination form for 2009 is available on the PAEMST Web site at www.paemst.org and must be submitted online. The PAEMST Web site can provide additional information about the awards, nomination, application, selection, awardees, and state coordinators. The nomination form should be completed early enough to ensure that the nominated teacher is given enough time to thoroughly prepare an application that reflects exemplary teaching prior to the application deadline. Applications are due by May 1 annually.
Contact Roy Barnes, State Coordinator for Mathematics, or Cathy Mackey, State Coordinator for Science, to answer questions about the awards program and provide assistance and mentoring to the nominees and awardees. The state coordinators for mathematics or science may be contacted through the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) Web site.