Triangle Coalition For Science And Technology Education

President Obama is recognizing some of the Nation’s finest math and science teachers this week. The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) is the highest honor that Kindergarten through 12th grade science and math teachers can receive. The awardees are gathered in Washington, D.C. for the awards ceremony and four days of festivities, including a visit to the White House, professional development opportunities, and discussions with the Obama Administration.

The PAEMST award alternates each year between recognizing elementary and secondary education teachers, with the latter being honored this round. The selection process is rigorous and includes multiple reviews by scientists, mathematicians and educators, as well as the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The final teachers who are selected exemplify the highest standards of math and science teaching.

This year, 52 of the awardees are science teachers, 51 are mathematics teachers, and they represent 49 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. territories. In addition to the free trip to Washington, D.C. for the awards ceremony, winners also receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation to be used at their discretion.

“Science and technology have long been at the core of America’s strength and competitiveness…,” 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.”

At Triangle Coalition, we are especially proud of two Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellows, Mark Greenman and Camsie Matis, who are recipients of this year’s award.

Mark Greenman, who has taught high school for 30 years in Marblehead, Massachusetts, describes PAEMST as “an award that highlights the national priority to provide all our citizenry with a world-class science and mathematics education. I am greatly honored and deeply humbled to be considered for this prestigious teaching award, and I am proud to be recognized as an educator who has contributed to inspiring young people to appreciate and excel at mathematics and science.”

Camsie Matis has taught in urban public schools for 10 years, most recently in New York, NY. “Too often, urban students in public schools do not have access to excellent teaching and current resources,” she says. “I passionately believe that outstanding teachers should be strategically placed in struggling schools. The Presidential Award solidifies this belief–that excellent teaching can and does make a difference with even the most challenged students. The success of my students is my real award, and I am grateful for the opportunity to highlight their success by this recognition.”

Meet all 103 awardees and check out their profiles.

Enacted by Congress in 1983, PAEMST is administered by the National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Education and Human Resources on behalf of OSTP. To learn more about the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching or to nominate a teacher, visit http://www.paemst.org/.

Yesterday, June 16th, 2010, the House passed H.Res. 1322, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program and recognizing the significant contributions of Albert Einstein Fellows. The vote was recorded and passed 405-5. The resolution was introduced on May 4, 2010 by Rep. Michael Honda (D-CA) and included the support of 29 cosponsors.

Fifteen past and present Albert Einstein Fellows attended to support and observe the passage of the resolution. As Honda, the resolution’s sponsor, was unable to present yesterday, Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) read the opening statements, which were followed by additional supporting comments from one of the co-sponsors, Rep. Thomas Petri (R-WI).

The language in the resolution reads, that the House of Representatives:

(1) recognizes the significance of the 20th anniversary of the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program;
(2) recognizes the value of having current science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers directly engaged in the policymaking process;
(3) recognizes the sacrifices made by teachers who interrupt their careers to serve as Einstein Fellows;
(4) supports continuation of the Einstein Fellowship program;
(5) encourages Federal Agencies and congressional offices to host Einstein Fellows, and to leverage the expertise of former Einstein Fellows; and
(6) recognizes the contributions of Einstein Fellows, past, present, and future.

Over the course of the past 20 years, 190 fellows have served in the Department of Energy, Department of Education, National Institute of Health, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Science Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and Office of Science and Technology Policy. The incoming 2010-2011 Einstein Fellows will be the program’s largest cohort yet, with 32 teachers having been selected.

During the week of June 27th, the Einstein Fellows gather together to commemorate the program’s 20th anniversary at the E-20 Summit in Washington, DC

The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program offers mathematics, technology, and science classroom teachers with demonstrated excellence in teaching an opportunity to serve in the national public policy arena. Fellows provide practical insight in establishing and operating education programs. Fellowships increase understanding, communication, and cooperation between legislative and executive branches and the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education community. Since the program’s inception in 1990, the Triangle Coalition has been authorized by the Department of Energy to manage its operations.