Two South Carolina teachers among 100 honored with Presidential Mathematics and Science Awards
A Greenville County teacher and a Florence School District 5 teacher are among 100 exemplary classroom professionals across the nation to receive the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
Judith Snyder from Eastside High School in Taylors and Melissa Timmons from Johnsonville High School in Florence County are recipients of the 2005 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science teaching, the highest honor for teaching in these fields. The pair is among 100 educators honored recently by President George W. Bush during a weeklong series of recognition events and professional development opportunities in Washington.
“These teachers exemplify excellence,” said State Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum. “They are gifted innovators who bring passion to the classroom and ignite a fire for learning among their students. I applaud their dedication to teaching and learning and commend them on this honor.”
President Bush commended Snyder and Timmons for devotion to the learning needs of students, for embodying excellence in teaching and for upholding the high standards that epitomize American education at its finest.
The goal of the Presidential Awards program is to expand and exemplify the definition of excellent science and mathematics teaching. Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspirations to their communities and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science education. In addition to the all expenses-paid trip to the nation’s capitol, awardees received a $10,000 gift from the National Science Foundation and gifts from corporate sponsors.
The NSF is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering with an annual budget of nearly $5.47 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 universities and institutions. NSF also awards more than $200 million in professional and service contracts yearly.
Established by Congress in 1983, the annual presidential awards program identifies outstanding mathematics and science teachers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Territories and the U.S. Department of Defense Schools. This year’s recipients – chosen by a panel of leading mathematicians, scientists and educators in conjunction with the White House – teach in the seventh through twelfth grades.
The next round of Presidential Awards will recognize mathematics and science teachers in grades K-6. Public, private and parochial school teachers can be nominated by anyone except themselves. For more information, visit www.paemst.org.