S
TATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
JULIA L. JOHNSON
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
LINDA K. TAYLOR
CONTACT PERSON
NAME:
Michelle Reaves
PHONE:
(850) 245-0765
SUNCOM:
205-0765
EMAIL:
Michelle.Reaves@fldoe.org
K12:
2005-106
M E M O R A N D U M
TO:
District School Superintendents
FROM:
Jeanine Blomberg
DATE:
August 17, 2005
SUBJECT: Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)
Program was established in 1983 by The White House and is sponsored by the National
Science Foundation (NSF). The program identifies outstanding mathematics and science
teachers, kindergarten through 12th grade, in each state and the four U.S. jurisdictions. These
teachers serve as models for their colleagues and are leaders in the improvement of science
and mathematics education. The program is intended to provide increased status and rewards
for demonstrated professionalism and encourage high-quality teachers to remain in the
teaching profession. The competition alternates each year between teachers of grades K-6
and teachers of grades 7-12.
JEANINE BLOMBERG
CHIEF OF STAFF
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 1514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-9663 • www.fldoe.org
John L. Winn
Commissioner of Education
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
August 11, 2005
Superintendents
Page 2
The 2006 Presidential Awards Program is now officially underway. Experienced and
exceptional teachers of mathematics and science who teach in elementary grades (K-6) are
eligible for the prestigious award when they are nominated by colleagues, administrators,
students, or parents of students.
The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching Program is
administered for the White House by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The Council of
State Science Supervisors, as the primary contractor, works with the National Council of
Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), which represents the mathematics community. State-level
nomination and selection procedures for mathematics teachers are coordinated by the NCTM. In
science, the Council of State Science Supervisors is the coordinating organization.
Each state selection committee will choose three elementary science teachers and three
elementary mathematics teachers to be recognized as state awardees in 2006. The state awardees
will be recognized in October 2006 at the state conference for mathematics or science. These
teachers will become the official state candidates for the Presidential Award and compete for the
state awards and then at the national level.
A national awardee from Florida in mathematics and science will be announced in April 2007,
and the honored teacher will be invited to an expense-paid awards ceremony and other activities
in Washington, D.C., in the spring of 2007. The NSF will provide a grant of $10,000 to the
teacher selected to represent Florida at the national level. Local and national publicity for state
and national award winners is an important part of this program.
Attached please find the nomination procedures for elementary teachers. The nomination form
may be found at http://www.paemst.org/AppPkts.cfm. The nomination form should be
completed and mailed to the state coordinator as soon as possible. Each nominee will be sent an
application packet from the state coordinator. The application must be completed and returned
to the Florida Department of Education with a postmark no later than May 1, 2006.
JB/mram
Enclosures
cc: Assistant Superintendents for Instruction
District Mathematics, Science, and Secondary Curriculum Contacts
Members of Florida Association of Academic Nonpublic Schools
2006 PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN MATHEMATICS AND
SCIENCE TEACHING
NOMINATION PROCEDURES
I.
Eligibility
A. Elementary (grade K-6) school teachers who are assigned at least half time during the
current school year to classroom teaching of science or mathematics in a public or private
school and who anticipate a classroom teaching assignment for the 2005-2006 school
year are eligible.
B. At least five years of teaching experience in science or mathematics is required.
II. Guidelines for Nomination
The teacher-nominees should
•
have attained a reputation among peers for reaching all their students while
encouraging the attainment of excellence;
•
have significantly improved students’ understanding of (or competence in)
mathematics or science;
•
have displayed goals that extend beyond preparing students for the next course and
the next academic year;
•
have a strong content foundation in the subject matter taught;
•
show evidence of continued interest and growth in their subject matter area and in the
mechanics and artistry of teaching;
•
show evidence of involvement, at least at the local level, in the professional
responsibilities of their discipline.
NOTES:
1.
The goal of this program is to identify excellence in a broad cross section of
elementary science and mathematics teachers. Teaching excellence takes a variety of
forms, is practiced in a variety of curricular formats, and is spread through geographic
and demographic categories. It is the intent of this awards program to highlight and
illustrate these facets of excellence rather than to restrict its definition.
2.
The Program Coordinator for Mathematics is Renee Henry, 2981 Blairstone Court,
Tallahassee, FL 32301.
The Program Coordinator for Science is Michelle Reaves, 325 West Gaines Street,
Suite 444, Tallahassee, FL 32399.