FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
S
TATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Chairman
Members
DR. AKSHAY DESAI
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
LINDA K. TAYLOR
Dr. Eric J. Smith
Commissioner of Education
Contact Information:
Vie Vie Baird
(850) 245-0758
Vievie.baird@fldoe.org
K12: 2008-180
M E M O R A N D U M
TO:
District School Superintendents
FROM:
Dr. Frances Haithcock
DATE:
December 8, 2008
SUBJECT: 2009 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 President and is sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The
program identifies outstanding mathematics and science teachers, kindergarten through twelfth 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.
The 2009 Presidential Awards Program is now officially underway. Exceptional experienced teachers of
mathematics and science, who teach in grades 7-12, are eligible for this prestigious award. Teachers can
self-nominate or be nominated by colleagues, administrators, students, parents or community members.
State selection committees will choose up to three grades 7-12 science teachers and three grades 7-12
mathematics teachers as state finalists. The state awardees will be honored in October 2009 at the state
conferences for mathematics or science. These teachers will become the official state candidates for the
Presidential Award and compete for the national award. A national awardee from Florida in mathematics
and science will be announced in April or May of 2010. The awardees will receive a citation signed by
the President of the United States, a paid trip for two to Washington, D.C. to attend a weeklong series of
recognition events and professional development opportunities, gifts from program sponsors from around
the country, and a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation.
DR. FRANCES HAITHCOCK
CHANCELLOR OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0509 • www.fldoe.org
District Superintendents
December 8, 2008
Page Two
The 2009 nomination form is available at www.paemst.org. The nomination form should be completed
online. Please note that the applications are due online by May 1, 2009 so please nominate potential
applicants soon so that they have time to complete the online application process.
The following are eligibility criteria for nominees. They must:
•
Be highly qualified teachers, as deemed by their states, districts, or schools; teachers in
private/independent schools should meet the spirit of the principles and provisions of the No
Child Left Behind Act of 2002, Public Law 107-110.
•
Hold a degree or appropriate credentials in the category for which they are applying.
•
Teach in one of the 50 states or four U.S. jurisdictions. The jurisdictions are Washington, D.C.,
Puerto Rico, Department of Defense Schools, and the U.S. territories as a group (American
Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).
•
Be full-time employees of the school or school district.
•
Have at least five years of mathematics or science teaching experience prior to application.
•
Teach mathematics or science at the 7th through 12th grade level in a public or private school.
•
Not have received the national PAEMST award in any prior competition or category.
FH/vvb
cc: Assistant Superintendents for Instruction
District Mathematics, Science, and Secondary Curriculum Contacts
Members of the Florida Association of Academic Nonpublic Schools