Press Release - President Obama Honors Outstanding Mathematics and Science Teachers

WASHINGTON, DC - President Obama today named 103 mathematics and science teachers as recipients of the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The educators will receive their awards in Washington, D.C. later this year.

The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is awarded annually to the best pre-college-level 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 mathematics and science teachers teaching Kindergarten through 6th grade, and those teaching 7th through 12th grades. This year it goes to teachers teaching 7th through 12th grades.

Winners of this Presidential honor receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation to be used at their discretion. They also receive an expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for an awards ceremony and several days of educational and celebratory events, including visits with members of Congress and science agency leaders.

Last spring at the National Academy of Sciences, President Obama called on all Americans to join the effort to elevate science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education as a national priority. The President's public-private "Educate to Innovate" initiative, which was launched last fall, has attracted more than $500 million in donations and in-kind support from corporations, philanthropies, service organizations, and others to help inspire students to pursue studies and careers in math and science. Last month, Cabinet officials and others in the Federal government answered the President's call to action by volunteering in local classrooms as part of National Lab Day, a nationwide initiative to build local communities of support for teachers and students studying mathematics and science.

"Science and technology have long been at the core of America's strength and competitiveness, and the scientists and engineers who have led America on its remarkable path to success share something very precious: science and math teachers who brought these critical subjects to life," said President Obama. "Today we honor some of the best of these teachers and thank them for their dedication. They are inspirations not just to their students, but to the Nation and the world."

The individuals receiving the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching this year are:

Alabama

Megan O'Neill, Fairhope (Science)

Alaska

Robert Williams, Palmer (Math)
Jane Sandstrom, Fairbanks (Science)

Arizona

Sandra Trevino, Sierra Vista (Math)
Colette Bos, Mesa (Science)

Arkansas

Lorraine Darwin, Cabot (Math)
Karen Ladd, Jonesboro (Science)

California

Sean Nank, Oceanside (Math)
Mark Fairbank, Paso Robles (Science)

Colorado

Carrie Heaney, Aurora (Math)
Aaron Sams, Woodland Park (Science)

Connecticut

Edward DePeau III, Newington (Math)
Kristen Record, Stratford (Science)

Delaware

Carrie Barber, Wilmington (Math)
Kelly Green, Middletown (Science)

Department of Defense Education Activity

Timothy Kelly, Baumholder, Germany (Math)
Ray Smola, Heidelberg, Germany (Science)

District of Columbia

Yvette Yamagata, Washington (Math)

Florida

Michelle Voelker, Defuniak Springs (Math)
Allan Phipps, Plantation (Science)

Georgia

Christopher Harrow, Atlanta (Math)
Rachael Parr, Commerce (Science)

Hawaii

Yannabah Lewis, Kailua-Kona (Math)
John Constantinou, Kea'au (Science)

Idaho

Kim Zeydel, Meridian (Math)
Marian DeWane, Boise (Science)

Illinois

Paul Karafiol, Chicago (Math)
Jason Crean, La Grange (Science)

Indiana

Janice Mitchener, Carmel (Math)
Deanna York, Indianapolis (Science)

Iowa

Matthew Miller, Cedar Rapids (Math)
Jessica Gogerty, Des Moines (Science)

Kansas

Cynthia Couchman, Buhler (Math)
Bruce Wellman, Lawrence (Science)

Kentucky

Jennifer Crase, Crestwood (Math)
Melissa Evans, Corbin (Science)

Louisiana

Pamela Goodner, Baton Rouge (Math)
Lisa Hartman, New Orleans (Science)

Maine

Shawn Towle, Falmouth (Math)
Maria Palopoli, Brunswick (Science)

Maryland

Kimberly Burton-Regulski, Essex (Math)
Radhika Plakkot, Huntingtown (Science)

Massachusetts

Sharon Hessney, Roxbury (Math)
Mark Greenman, Marblehead (Science)

Michigan

Renee Yake, Iron Mountain (Math)
Nathaniel Childers, Rochester Hills (Science)

Minnesota

Karen Hyers, Oakdale (Math)
Stephen Kaback, Minneapolis (Science)

Mississippi

Virginia Welch, Hattiesburg (Math)
Linda Parrott, Ocean Springs (Science)

Missouri

Steven Willott, Saint Charles (Math)
Marsha Tyson, Columbia (Science)

Montana

LeAnne Yenny, Bozeman (Math)
Darlene Ruble, Eureka (Science)

Nebraska

Linda Coates, Omaha (Math)
Brenda Zabel, Omaha (Science)

Nevada

Michael Patterson, Las Vegas (Math)
Cynthia Kern, Henderson (Science)

New Hampshire

Stacey Plummer, Hollis (Math)
Angela Gospodarek, Raymond (Science)

New Jersey

Mark Geiger, Lanoka Harbor (Math)
W. Donald Clark, Long Branch (Science)

New Mexico

Dana Dawson, Edgewood (Math)
Vincent Case, Albuquerque (Science)

New York

Camsie Matis, New York (Math)
Jeanne Kaidy, Rochester (Science)

North Carolina

Maria Hernandez, Durham (Math)
Judith Jones, Chapel Hill (Science)

North Dakota

Fredrick Strand, Hatton (Math)
Ryan Bleth, Bismarck (Science)

Ohio

Rebecca Link, Fort Recovery (Math)
Sandee Coats-Haan, Liberty Township (Science)

Oklahoma

Beth Harper, Oklahoma City (Math)
Kristy VanDorn, Edmond (Science)

Oregon

Marna Knoer, Eugene (Math)
Lori Lancaster, Portland (Science)

Pennsylvania

Becky Piscitella, Johnstown (Math)

Puerto Rico

Sylvette Velez, San Juan (Math)
Alexandra Rodríguez, San Juan (Science)

Rhode Island

Jeffrey Schoonover, Portsmouth (Science)

South Carolina

 Michelle Spigner, Columbia (Science)

South Dakota

Lori Keleher, Miller (Math)
Angela Hejl, Yankton (Science)

Tennessee

Jeff McCalla, Arlington (Math)
Peggy Bertrand, Oak Ridge (Science)

Texas

Mallory Zimmerman, Uvalde (Math)
Lucielle Paramoure, New Braunfels (Science)

US Territories

Weslyn Harry, St. Thomas (Math)
Mary Jane Coles, Frederiksted (Science)

Utah

Janet Sutorius, Nephi (Math)
Amy Pace, Saint George (Science)

Vermont

John Willard, Colchester (Math)
William Warren, Colchester (Science)

Virginia

Kimberly Morrow-Leong, Bristow (Math)
Dat Le, Arlington (Science)

Washington

Nicola Wethall, Oak Harbor (Math)
Kareen Borders, Lakebay (Science)

West Virginia

Cynthia Burke, Wheeling (Math)
Rebecca Jones, Lumberport (Science)

Wisconsin

Weston Glasbrenner, Fennimore (Math)
Melissa Hemling, Pulaski (Science)

Wyoming

Susan Carlson, Casper (Math)
Mark Haskins, Lander (Science)

Note to reporters: For more information about, or interviews with, local winners of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, please contact Maria Zacharias at the National Science Foundation at (703) 292-8454 or mzachari@nsf.gov, or Alice Potosky at (240) 747-4966 or Alice.E.Potosky@macrointernational.com.