Four educators from Montana have been awarded the nation’s highest honor for U.S. mathematics and science teachers.
The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching winners came from multiple Montana cities, including Helena, Hamilton, and White Sulphur Springs.
The national Montana winners are:
2017: Grades 7-12
Math: Beth Walsh, East Valley Middle School, Helena, Montana
Science: Claire Pichette, Helena High School, Helena, Montana
2018: Grades K-6
Math: Thomas Redmon, Daly Elementary, Hamilton, Montana
Science: Justine Hurley, White Sulphur Springs Elementary School, White Sulphur Springs, Montana
Walsh, Pichette, Redmon, and Hurley will receive a $10,000 award, a presidential citation, a trip to Washington DC, and an awards ceremony.
The four teachers were initially nominated by a committee of Montana science and math teachers. After they were Montana State Finalists, the teachers were awarded national recognition by a panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians, and educators.
A committee of Montana science and math teachers selected teachers from a pool of applicants statewide. From these finalists, a national panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians, and educators selected four Montana teachers to be national award winners.
The application process for PAEMST is substantial. It includes filming footage of the classroom lessons along with a series of written documentation that showcases how much of an impact a teacher has had on their students.
In Montana, the state recognition program is sponsored and administered by the Montana Professional Teaching Foundation in association with the Montana Association of Presidential Awardees.
